Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Justin Nsengiyumva, has called on global leaders to reaffirm their commitment to international standardisation as a fundamental pillar of equitable and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting 2025 in Kigali, on Monday, October 6, Nsengiyumva underscored that harmonised standards are essential for facilitating trade, driving innovation, and addressing global challenges.
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Welcoming over 1,000 delegates from 176 countries, Nsengiyumva described Rwanda’s hosting of the event as an honour and a reflection of the country’s belief in collaboration through common standards.
Through the efforts of ISO and its Member States, order, structure, and meaning are brought to the way nations live, trade, innovate, and cooperate, he said.
The Prime Minister indicated that this gathering is more than just a meeting but a platform for countries, ISO Members, and partners to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and reaffirm the importance of market-relevant standards that facilitate trade, drive innovation, enhance climate resilience, and offer practical solutions to global challenges.
"Standardisation must remain a cornerstone of equitable and sustainable development. This means aligning standards across markets, building ecosystems that support business access and deepening cooperation to share knowledge and best practices,” Nsengiyumva stated.
He noted that the Rwandan government has placed standardisation, conformity assessment and metrology – the science of measurement and its application – at the heart of our development strategy.
"These tools have helped us build a more competitive business environment. They have strengthened public safety, improved the quality and reliability of products and services, supported tourism, stimulated industrial growth, and accelerated innovation and technology adoption,” he said.
"They have also enabled our economy to compete more effectively, regionally and globally.”
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Nsengiyumva pointed out that the country’s active engagement in international standardisation has opened new doors for Rwandan businesses, built trust, attracted investment and expanded opportunities for its people.
"We are honoured that ISO has chosen Rwanda to host this year’s Annual Meeting. This decision aligns perfectly with our national vision: to build a dynamic, competitive, and private sector–driven economy that is open to the world,” he stated.
The theme of this year’s gathering, "United for Impact," resonates strongly with Rwanda’s own journey, the premier said.
He indicated that much of the country’s progress has come from working together around a shared vision.
"By uniting our efforts, we have turned challenges into opportunities and built a foundation for growth, resilience and prosperity,” Nsengiyumva said.
"In the same spirit, the global community can achieve far greater impact when we pool our knowledge, resources, and determination to address the pressing challenges we all face.”