By: Kassahun Chanie
Opening the 19th Intra-Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS) General Assembly at the Quality Village campus in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Dr. Kassahun Gofe, alongside international scientific leaders, called on African National Metrology Institutes to urgently accelerate digital transformation, adopt machine-readable calibration certificates, and establish regional centers of excellence to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Minister Kassahun emphasized that the ultimate success of continental economic integration and industrialization hinges on building reliable quality infrastructure and dismantling non-tariff hurdles across borders. He highlighted Ethiopia's landmark "Quality Village Initiative" as a continental reference model designed to foster a robust national culture of quality, enhance export capacities, and guarantee fair market competition. The Minister recommended that African governments deepen regional technical cooperation, leverage digital measurement technologies, and forge strategic international partnerships to construct trusted, future-ready metrological frameworks that boost the continent's global competitiveness.
Supporting this vision, the Director General of the Ethiopian Metrology Institute, Dr. Mulugeta Derebew, stated that achieving international measurement equivalence and expanding participation in the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement are non-negotiable requirements for Africa to operate as an equal partner in global commerce. Highlighting Ethiopia's newly commissioned Chemical Metrology Laboratory in Addis Ababa, Dr. Mulugeta recommended that international financial institutions streamline procurement rules for specialized scientific equipment, while urging the African Union and the World Customs Organization to establish a "Green Channel" protocol to eliminate border transit delays for sensitive calibration artifacts.
AFRIMETS President Dr. Henry Rotich officially declared the assembly open under the defining theme "Metrology for Digital Transformation: Building Trusted Measurements for Africa's Future," asserting that precise measurement science serves as the essential infrastructure underpinning smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and digital trade. Dr. Rotich advised member states to execute four strategic priorities: establishing digitally connected African metrology networks, harmonizing digital measurement frameworks for the AfCFTA, expanding capabilities in emerging technologies, and investing in human capital through specialized digital training platforms.
In a major global announcement during the assembly, the President of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM), Dr. Wynand Louw, unveiled a landmark international proposal to establish a new "observer status" category. Dr. Louw explained that this initiative will grant 82 developing United Nations member states direct access to global measurement networks, capacity-building programs, and e-learning resources, ensuring emerging economies are not locked out by high technological costs.
Organizers confirmed that the 19th General Assembly will continue at Quality Village through August 7, 2026, bringing together technical experts, regional metrology organizations, and international partners. Delegates concluded that the three-day summit marks a transformative milestone in establishing a unified, digitally integrated metrology ecosystem designed to power Africa's automated industries and secure its economic future.
