Development of trade in Africa : promoting exports through quality and product safety

Increased trade and closer economic co-operation between developing countries represent a considerable potential for development, but realising this potential represents a major challenge. The developing countries still have a disproportional small share of the world's trade in goods and services. Improvement of this situation is dependent on access to markets and the countries' ability to exploit the export potential. In order to obtain market access, the African countries need a quality and product safety infrastructure that complies with international markets requirements. This will require national reforms, development of the necessary infrastructure including accreditation and standardisation bodies and laboratories, training of manpower and targeted development assistance. This study co-funded by Sida and Norad raises interesting questions within the field of SPS/TBT and will be central in the day to day work with trade related projects.

The publication can be ordered free of charge from Sida, by following the link ""read on web/les på nettet"".