Rwanda has signed Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with Congo-Brazzaville and Zimbabwe aimed at facilitating trade through the principle of “One Standard – One Test – One Certificate.” The agreements mean that a product tested and certified in one country can be recognized and accepted in other African countries.
The move is expected to ease cross-border trade by reducing repeated testing procedures and simplifying certification requirements for exporters within the African market.
The Director General of the Rwanda Standards Board said the agreement will help ease trade among African countries by promoting mutual recognition of standards and simplifying certification processes. “This paves the way for business communities in the signing countries to trade together as part of the AfCFTA mutual recognition agreement. We are endorsing and prioritizing the operationalization of the trade facilitation ecosystem, putting forward a vision of one standard, one test, one certificate accepted everywhere in Africa,” said Murenzi Raymond, Director General of the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB).
As part of this initiative, 32 Rwandan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 78 products have been certified under the African Conformity Assessment Program (ACAP). The certified products include sorghum, wheat, maize, potatoes, rice, honey and other agricultural goods.
The minister noted that although several products have recently been certified, most are still concentrated in agro-processing, stressing the need for Africa to diversify production and increase output to better utilize available markets. “When you look at the categories of products that have been certified today, almost all of them are in the same sector. It’s agro-processing mainly. And it is as if we are only producing in agriculture. So we can do more. Those who have made it to date can also make it in other sectors, in other manufacturing sectors, in high-tech sectors,” the minister said, calling for more diversified production across the continent.
The minister further emphasized that trade within Africa is still largely dominated by minerals and agricultural products, noting the importance of increasing production capacity so African countries can better feed themselves and trade more with each other.
A beneficiary of the certification explained that the lack of trust in product quality previously forced exporters to undergo repeated testing in other countries, causing delays and increasing costs, but the newly obtained certification is expected to speed up trade and open more market opportunities. “The challenge was getting people to trust the quality of the products. When you took them to other countries, they would subject them to additional tests and examinations, which caused delays in trading and led to financial losses. Now that these gateways have been opened, trading will become faster, and even importing raw materials will be quicker. Obtaining this certificate has already helped us secure partners and a market in Congo,” he said.
The ACAP initiative supports intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by helping businesses meet recognized standards and expand access to markets across the continent.
Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO – KIGALI TIMES