Advancing Trade Through Trust: KENAS Participates in AfCFTA MRA Workshop in Nairobi
Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) joined key stakeholders today in Nairobi at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) Workshop—a strategic step towards eliminating technical barriers to trade and enhancing seamless market access across Africa.
A Milestone Toward Integration
Convened by the AfCFTA Secretariat, the MRA Workshop brought together National Quality Infrastructure Institutions, Regulatory Authorities, private sector actors, and State Parties. The goal: to advance the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, a cornerstone for implementing the AfCFTA’s agenda on boosting intra-African trade.
With accredited conformity assessment at the heart of product and service assurance, the mutual recognition of these results is essential for building trust across borders. This trust is what allows goods, services, and investments to move more freely between countries—strengthening local industries, protecting consumers, and reinforcing economic integration.
Dialogue, Expertise, and Alignment
The workshop facilitated knowledge sharing and in-depth dialogue on both regulatory and technical issues affecting cross-border trade. Global best practices were also spotlighted to help shape an effective roadmap for implementing MRAs within the AfCFTA framework.
KENAS, as a key accreditation body in the region, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting credible, internationally aligned accreditation systems that underpin trade, public health, safety, and environmental protection.
Unlocking Africa’s Potential
By harmonizing standards and recognizing accredited conformity assessment outcomes, African nations can reduce duplication of testing and certification processes. This not only lowers costs for businesses but also shortens time-to-market for products and services—a game changer for SMEs and large enterprises alike.
The workshop represents a bold step forward in building a unified, trusted, and competitive African market. KENAS remains proud to contribute to these conversations, reinforcing its mandate to facilitate quality assurance and trade competitiveness through accreditation.
