Nairobi. June 24, 2025 – Yesterday, BSI (British Standards Institution) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a transformative partnership aimed at strengthening Africa’s quality infrastructure, harmonising standards, and modernising sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems across the continent.
This strategic collaboration will drive the development and implementation of internationally aligned standards, boost industrial competitiveness, and deliver on the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). With fragmented technical standards and regulatory barriers continuing to limit intra-African trade – currently at just 15%, the MoU signals a critical step toward deeper regional integration and expanded access to global markets.
“Robust standards are the backbone of socially responsible, sustainable and competitive trade,” said Richard Taylor, Knowledge Services Director at BSI. “This partnership brings together BSI’s global expertise in standards, certification and capacity building with TMA’s on-the-ground experience across Africa to enable safer, smarter, and sustainable trade. We are pleased that this formal agreement builds on past collaborations with TMA, including work on Kenya’s National Quality Policy, and the five-year Strategic Plan for the Somaliland Quality Control Commission.”
The MOU prioritises areas for cooperation, including support to National Standards Bodies and Regional Economic Communities to align with ISO, IEC and Codex international norms, providing support to RECS and NSBs in development of sector-specific standards (especially in agriculture, manufacturing, and digital trade) in coordination with ARSO and ISO, SPS digitisation, capacity building, mutual recognition of certifications, and policy advocacy for integrating standards into national industrial strategies.
“This is a framework for impact. By aligning efforts on mutual recognition of standards and sustainability certifications, we aim to reduce compliance costs for African producers and promote inclusive access to regional and international markets,” said Josepha Ndamira, Senior Director, Corporate Resources at TMA. “Together, we will co-create and implement solutions on standards that directly respond to Africa’s development priorities – from agri-food systems and industrialisation to sustainable trade and digital economy. One trade corridor at a time.”
The agreement supports implementation of the WTO TBT Agreement and AfCFTA ambitions by enabling safer products, traceable value chains, and globally recognised certifications – building trust in ‘Made in Africa’ goods.
With both organisations committed to promoting inclusive, sustainable, and rules-based trade, this partnership will also help position Africa as a globally competitive trading bloc ready to meet the standards of tomorrow.
