By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Mozambique’s National Institute for Standardization and Quality (INNOQ) has called on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate technical standards into their production portfolio as an essential measure for ensuring quality, safety, and competitivenesss.
According to Geraldo Albazine, INNOQ director-general, speaking to reporters on Friday, in Maputo, at the opening of a seminar on MSMEs Infrastructure’s Quality, held under the Standardization Partnership Programme, the use of technical standards is crucial for ensuring the quality of products.
Albazine explained that. although the use of technical standards and certification is voluntary, INNOQ has been promoting seminars and workshops to raise awareness among companies about the importance of adopting good practices that guarantee safe products and services that do not harm public health or the environment.
“Enforcement comes at a later stage", he said. "The priority at this stage is to guide companies on what they should do and how they should do it to ensure compliance with the established requirements”.
The project, which is implemented in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI), already supports 15 small businesses and indirectly benefits around 100, mostly linked to the agricultural sector, particularly the macadamia and cashew nut chains.
“Our desire is to have 1,000, 2.000 or more companies benefiting from this initiative, so that they can safely place their products in the most demanding markets and ensure growth. The project does not provide direct financing to companies but offers training and technical guidance to help them meet the necessary export requirements”, he said.
He explained that the adoption of standards involves investments, particularly in laboratory testing and compliance with technical parameters.
For his part, Galiza Macome, director of Central Development and Production Services at the country’s Almond Institute (IAM), said that quality infrastructure is one of the most decisive “silent pillars” for sustainable economic development.
The adoption of quality mechanisms, he said, strengthens market confidence, protects consumers, promotes innovation, and reduces technical barriers to trade, especially in strategic chains such as cashews and macadamias.
“For SMEs, understanding and integrating quality mechanisms is not only a technical requirement but a strategic condition for growth, competition, and prosperity. It is also important to favor accreditation for international recognition of certifications issued in Mozambique, allowing national products to be accepted across borders and integrated into regional and global value chains”, he said.
Vânia Dava, speaking in representation of the United Kingdom, said that her government funds the Standardization Partnership Programme as a way of supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Mozambique. “The programme is designed to unlock economic opportunities by strengthening the capacity of developing countries to adopt and comply with international standards that open doors to new markets and global value chains”, she said. (MT)
