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Eve Gadzikwa

Business Editor
LOCAL companies should tap into the export market through enhanced product quality that meets international standards to stimulate growth and increase their revenues, the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has said.
SAZ director general Eve Gadzikwa told Business Chronicle that producing quality products was critical for local firms to consolidate the local market share in the wake of rampant imports.

“We’re living in a global village that is undergoing profound transformations at all levels. Economies have never been more interdependent. Today, products that are consumed in one market are no longer made in one country, they’re made in the world,” she said.

“Before they get to the end consumer, they transit through many countries where manpower or parts add value to the final product.”

Gadzikwa said the playing field was not level in the business environment and implored small to medium enterprises (SMEs), seen as a key growth area, to aim at attaining international standards certification. This, she said, would make it easier for the players “to get their products certified and better able to compete and sell anywhere in the world”.

“With international standards SMEs are able to take part in the global value chains and benefit from technology transfer,” she added.

She said the thriving SMEs sector for instance, could realise more earnings for Zimbabwe if standards aspects were addressed in their operations.

“There is a gap in terms of standards, which needs to be bridged in order to realise the potential from the sector. We’re living in a global village but still use antiquated machinery and lack adequate funding. This makes it difficult for us to meet stringent requirements that the export market demands.”

Gadzikwa said Zimbabwean companies were entitled to duty free access to the European Union market but could not break through because of standards-related issues. She urged the government to be consistent in its policy stance and hailed the crafting of the Consumer Protection Bill and the Zimbabwe Quality Standards Regulatory Bill, which she said would enhance product quality and service to customers.

Countries that have mainstreamed international standards into their policies and regulations are able to better protect their populations and give them a bigger choice of quality product, she added.

“In a multi-polar world, where the influence and economic might of emerging economies is shifting the balance of power, international standards stimulate growth, overcome artificial trade barriers and help level the playing field,” said Gadzikwa.

“This makes companies, industries and economies more competitive, making it easier for them to export and stimulate diversification nationally and internationally,” she said.

She also called for consolidation of imports regulation at the borders noting that presently the task was being done by loosely connected regulatory bodies from different ministries, a development she said left consumers vulnerable.

Gadzikwa, however, said the country was on track towards standards enhancement adding that her organisation was conducting training, testing and certification programmes on standards related issues to assist local firms.

Zimbabwe is part of the 163-member International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and joined the rest of the world on Friday to mark the Global Standards Day under the theme “Standards level the playing field”.