The government plans to establish a professional association for trained quality experts to strengthen compliance with industrial standards and improve the quality of locally manufactured products, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has said. The initiative is part of the Industrial Policy 2024–2034, which seeks to address gaps in standards enforcement and increase compliance across the manufacturing sector. ALSO READ: What harmonized standard certification means for industries Presenting the policy to the Chamber of Deputies on June 9, Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi said the new association will complement existing inspection systems by providing structured professional support to industries. “Monitoring industrial standards is one of the measures we are implementing. We do this in two main ways. First is a joint inspection approach that brings together all institutions responsible for standards, where we guide industries on areas that need improvement,” he said. Sebahizi noted that the government is shifting towards a more preventive approach to inspections by helping investors understand and meet standards requirements early. “The idea is to provide industries with clear guidance on the standards that must be met before investors face challenges during implementation,” he said. ALSO READ: What harmonized standard certification means for industries He added that efforts to establish the association of quality professionals are already underway. “Another solution that started this month is the establishment of quality professionals who will assess product quality within industries. Just like associations of lawyers, statisticians and other professionals, we want quality professionals to have an organised association,” Sebahizi said. According to him, the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) has already trained about 4,000 professionals who are expected to form the foundation of the new body. ALSO READ: Rwanda to host 2025 international standards body meeting “We have trained many of them. What remains is to organise them and provide them with a platform to advise industries so that they can bring quality products to the market,” he said. Sebahizi said the broader objective is to ensure that growth in industrial production is matched by higher product quality. He also highlighted other measures aimed at strengthening the sector, including increasing compliance with standards from 57 per cent to more than 80 per cent. Additional interventions include expanding 24-hour industrial operations, strengthening regular and joint inspections, and improving licensing and certification services provided by institutions such as the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), and Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (RFDA). The government also plans to extend operating hours for key regulatory services and introduce round-the-clock support in selected sectors, including transport, security and labour services within industrial zones
