Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) Executive Director, Manuel Mutale says they want to see production of local products compete on the international market.
Mr Mutale said for industrialization to thrive in the country, local products must compete favourably on the international market.
He said industrialization is an anchor of national development and for local products to meet both local and international standards, products must be tested and certified by the bureau.
He said this when he called on North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Willies Mangimela in Solwezi yesterday.
“We are here in the province to engage our stakeholders so that they can understand the different roles performed by the bureau of standards. Because we also regulate, industries are a bit scared to come to us,” Mr Mutale said.
He said with the operationalization of the African continental free trade area, there is need to explore the international market, especially that the local market has been satisfied.
“The goods that we produce should not only meet the local standards but also international. That is why we are going round the provinces to engage the business community, particularly the small and medium entrepreneurs because we have introduced the certification scheme suitable for small and medium enterprise,” Mr Mutale said.
And Provincial Permanent Secretary Willies Mangimela said the region is experiencing a lot of economic activities of which stakeholder engagement is required
“Engage these farmers in the province and give them tips on how to go about their products because right now Zambia is not only looking at satisfying the local market but international as well,” Mr Mangimela said.
He called on ZABS to take interest in the Industrial Development Cooperation fruit factory in Mwinilunga district which involves out grower farmers in pineapple and other fruits processing.
Mr Mangimela further urged the bureau to advise farmers on how to make their products competitive.
And product weighing. We are being ripped off on the fake grams or k’gram put on many packaged products.
This is what we have been calling for.
Now make some one in charge of creating and overseeing copratives
ZABS, we can’t have those rough humps that are just before most toll gates in Zambia, those razor sharp steep speed humps and can’t be of standard, they are spoiling a lot of vehicle suspensions, can something more user friendly be put up and those things scrapped. And even if you are slow they are still very brutal meaning there is something wrong. It’s hell driving on the Chingola Kitwe road toll gate and other toll gates as well.