Bridgetown, BARBADOS, May 27, 2014. CROSQ collaborated with one of its partners Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) to promote the work being done to strengthen the Regional Quality Infrastructure to overcome Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) at a two-day workshop hosted by the GIZ during the period May 26-27, 2014 at the Hilton Resort Barbados.
Project Coordinator of the 10th EDF-CRIP-EPA-TBT Programme, Ms. Karlene Russell
The Project Coordinator of the European Union funded 10th EDF-CRIP-EPA-TBT Programme at CROSQ, Ms. Karlene Russell gave a presentation on the initiatives being undertaken to strengthen the capacity of the National Standards Bureaus (NSBs) in the areas of metrology, standardisation, accreditation and conformity assessment as well as the efforts being made to promote a quality culture in CARIFORUM countries. The role of the private sector in the development of the Regional Quality Infrastructure was underscored and the presentation highlighted the progress being made to date.
Project Manager of the 10th EDF-CRIP-EPA-TBT Programme, Mr. Carl Felix Wolff
Project Manager at PTB, Mr. Carl Felix Wolff complemented the presentation made by CROSQ by focusing on the direct interventions targeting the private sector that are supported through bilateral support from the German Government to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries and the Dominican Republic. Mr. Wolff elaborated on the CALIDENA Approach to value chain development which focuses on identifying and addressing issues related to quality in a selected value chain. Value chain development is already underway in four countries: Antigua and Barbuda (jams and jellies) and Dominica (hot pepper sauce), Grenada (nutmeg oil), Trinidad & Tobago (poultry). These value chains represent practical applications for advancing the competitiveness of Caribbean products built on a stronger quality infrastructure.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the National EPA Implementation Units in CARIFORUM Member States, national standards bodies, manufacturers, exporters as well as representatives from Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA).
