Feasibility study on a Regional Training Programme for CROSQ

Being back in the Caribbean paradise I this time was challenged this time to find out the need for training in the CROSQ Member States. This project was funded by the EU TradeCom Facility which had contracted the German consultancy firm BKP Development with me as Key expert. Even if it was not formally described as a follow-up of the Pro€Invest-project for CROSQ, carried out last year, it practically came to be an implementation of two actions with high priority (Institutional capacity building and Mutual awareness building). The need assessment was based on a shallow questionnaire and deepening interviews during visits to the Member States. During two missions, 12 of 14 CROSQ Member States were visited. During the second mission I was accompanied by Håkan Källgren, Swedish Metrology and Quality, as an expert in metrology and conformity assessment. All National Standards Bodies were visited, and most visits also contained meetings with Business Support Organizations.

In St Kitts and Nevis there was also arranged meetings with enterprises (St Kitts Botteling Company, Sun Island Clothing Ltd).










The analysis of the need assessment resulted in a proposed Regional Training Programme and an Implementation plan for the programme. This proposal was validated by two participants from each Member State in a validation workshop in Barbados on the 6 December 2010.

2010 Report on Technical Barriers to Trade

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for the 2010 Report on Technical Barriers to Trade. The TBT Report is a new, specialized report focused on significant foreign trade barriers in the form of product standards, technical regulations and testing, certification, and other procedures involved in determining whether products conform to standards and technical regulations (conformity assessment procedures). These standards-related trade measures, known in World Trade Organization (WTO) parlance as “technical barriers to trade,” play an increasingly critical role in shaping the flow of global trade. Usually you learn more of an "outsider's" picture than to paint the picture yourself.

Mauritius Standards Bureau

Mauritius as a Member State of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is benefiting from participation in the EU SADC SQAM-project. The SQAM-project is among other activities offering training in all sectors of the Quality Infrastructure. In standardization the standards organizations are offered coaching by standards experts. MSB is receiving such coaching in March - April 2010 by Folke Hermansson Snickars from Sweden. The assignment is covering most part of the work done by the Standards Development Division, as a review of the MSB Standards Development Strategy, introduction of the project approach to standardization, proposals on a management system for the MSB supply of standards to Mauritius, and efficiency in preparation and conducting meetings. A special attention is also given to the Mauritius committtee on the WTO agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade of which MSB is acting as Secretariat.

CROSQ stakeholder dialogues

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) is preparing for a stronger Caribbean position in the global trade. By consulting its stakeholders, the National Standards Bodies and Business Support Organizations, CROSQ has done a needs assessment and prepared a 5-year CROSQ Action Plan 2011 - 2015 "Strengthening the Caribbean cooperation towards standards and quality". In two workshops CROSQ with the support (technical and financial) of Pro€Invest, initiated 2009 a capacity building technical assistance project to identify current and future institutional needs of CROSQ and its stakeholders. The output from the needs study has enabled CROSQ to develop a comprehensive Action plan for the years 2011-2015. As part of this project, key stakeholders to CROSQ were invited to take part in two workshops where needs were identified and actions to satisfy the needs were further developed. The format of the Stakeholder dialogues was tailored to encourage sharing of views and experience. As input to the dialogue, a preliminary needs analysis was presented to stimulate contributions from the participants. The outcome of the first workshop was a consensus view on the most urgent needs and their priority. These were grouped in the following five categories in priority order

* Institutional capacity building
* Review of the legal framework
* Mutual awareness building
* Sustainable management and Networking
* Adaptation to Innovation and Technology


The second workshop Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 February 2010 agreed on the actions which need to be taken to strengthen CROSQ and its members. A consolidated Action plan was presented and agreed as an outcome of the workshop.

Seychelles Bureau of Standards

Seychelles re-entered the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2008 and the national standards organization SBS was from 2009 benefiting from participation in the EU SADC SQAM-project. The SQAM-project is among other activities offering training in all sectors of the Quality Infrastructure. In standardization the standards organizations are offered coaching by standards experts. SBS was receiving such coaching in January 2010 by Folke Hermansson Snickars from Sweden. The first mission was reviewed by SBS management Friday 22 January.