The Zambia Bureau of Standards and the Angolan Institute of Standardization and Quality (INIQ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two institutions strengthen their collaboration in Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training activities, in a bid to enhance trade between the two countries. The MoU which was signed yesterday in Lunda Angola, will provide for a level playing field in ensuring that products and services traded between the two countries are of high quality, are safe and competitive in both markets.

ZABS Acting Executive Director Mr. Nathan Sing’ambwa and INIQ Executive Director Ms. Olga Dicamba signed the MoU on behalf of the two Governments. ZABS Acting Executive Director Mr. Sing’ambwa said having been charged with the responsibility of ensuring the quality and safety of products and services in Zambia, ZABS stood ready to effectively collaborate with INIQ to ensure harmonized standards for the products that have been identified as priority for trade and will ensure mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) are effectively applied to provide for acceptance of certification marks and test certifications between Zambia and Angola.

He further thanked the Governments of Zambia and Angola for providing an enabling environment for the two National Standards Bodies to strengthen the existing relationship and for the challenge placed before them to contribute to trade facilitation between the two countries through Standardization and Quality Assurance.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellences President Hakainde Hichilema and his Angolan Counterpart President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco