WINDHOEK, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is moving to implement harmonized African standards in its fisheries and aquaculture sector to improve export competitiveness, reduce trade barriers and advance economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, a senior government official said Monday.
Diina Nashidengo, director of the Commerce Directorate at the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, said that harmonized standards are critical to expanding market access and strengthening the country's quality infrastructure.
"Standards are not just a technical requirement; they are identified as an economic driver," Nashidengo said at an awareness program on the implementation of harmonized African standards and conformity assessment in fisheries and aquaculture, held in the coastal town of Walvis Bay.
"By developing harmonized African standards, we move to dismantle trade barriers," Nashidengo said, adding that greater alignment would facilitate the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, reduce delays at border crossings and lower compliance costs for businesses.
Namibia's largely export-oriented fisheries sector supplies international and regional markets and remains an important contributor to the country's economy.
Nashidengo said the adoption of harmonized standards would help Namibia maintain and expand its export markets while promoting sustainable production and improving competitiveness across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
The two-day program, organized by the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) and the Namibian Standards Institution, aims to raise awareness among fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders about the application of harmonized African standards to support sustainable economic development, food security and regional trade.
Namibia is a member of several regional and international standardization bodies, including ARSO, the International Organization for Standardization and the Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Standardization. ■