Mozambique: SMEs challenged to integrate technical standards into their production portfolio

Mozambique’s National Institute for Standardization and Quality (INNOQ) calls on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate technical standards into their production portfolio as an essential measure for ensuring quality, safety, and competitiveness in the domestic and international markets. According to Geraldo Albazine, INNOQ director-general, speaking to reporters on Friday, in Maputo, at the opening of the seminar on MSMEs Infrastructure’s Quality, held under the Standardization Partnership Program, the use of technical standards is crucial for ensuring the quality of our products. “Enforcement comes at a later stage, with the priority at this stage being to guide companies on what they should do and how they should do to ensure compliance with the established requirements”, he said.

“Our desire is to have a thousand, two thousand, 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 turn, 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. “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.

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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”, he said. “The project also enables MSMEs to comply with national, regional and international requirements, reducing technical barriers to trade and expanding market access, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector”, she added.

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