Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen said that the emphasis on GTP II is on quality, productivity and competitiveness of micro and small enterprises. The National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) institutions will play a critical role with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology taking on an increasingly leading role as the main actor and champion of quality infrastructure.

 

Speaking at NQI Programme Achievements and Prospects Conference held at Sheraton Addis Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke said:"In GTP II , we take it a notch up ! We are looking forward to seeing these NQI institutions make a wide-scale impact in the growing manufacturing and service sectors. We are moving away from imitating technologies to improving them. We are aspiring to make Ethiopia a manufacturing hub."

 

The Deputy Prime Minister further said that to become a middle income economy by 2025, building technological capabilities into manufacturing and service providing enterprises is a must.

 

The government is fully committed and continues to adopt policies to create conducive business environment and laying the ground for well- functioning infrastructure to enable public and private sectors to deliver quality product and services to the export market, Demeke said.

 

Science and Technology Minister Abiy Ahmed on his part said that NQI programme has made significant stride towards building the capacity of these institutions in order to effectively serve the manufacturing and service providing industries in the country. According to the 2015 public-private and consumer survey data, 70 per cent of companies were satisfied with the services provided by these institutions compared to 56 per cent in 2013 and 46 per cent in 2008. "A testament to the great work we have achieved,"Minister Abiy added.

 

" Ethiopia's march towards industrialization is facilitated by a well functioning quality infrastructure which in turn garners further entry into the international market and WTO accession. Today is nothing but a deliberate act to remind you that quality infrastructure is crucial in the realization of our development objectives "

 

GIZ Country Director Dr. Axel Klaphake said that NQI has successfully reformed the institutions responsible for establishing nationwide standards. "Now, they take international norms and guidelines into account when advising businesses on how to achieve quality and they certify industrial products according to international standards. Thus, high quality products are now available for Ethiopian customers and the Ethiopian industry is fit for entering international markets."

 

GIZ NQI Programme Manager Ulrich Plein said that reforms have also raised the awareness of Ethiopian consumers with regard to relevance of nationwide standards and quality labels . Surveys have shown that the recognition of a quality mark products introduced by one of the NQI - institution has risen from 67- 77 perc ent in one year.

 

Science and Technology Ministry Senior Advisor Blin Mamo said citing World Bank (WB) Ethiopian economic update released just two weeks ago , Ethiopia is poised to become a middle income economy by 2025 as the country is registering impressive economic growth averaging 10.9 per cent and development led by agriculture, services and public investment of mega structures.

Source : allafrica.com