A National Awareness workshop on Trade and Quality Infrastructure funded by PTB Germany and organized by SAARC Secretariat with the assistance of Ministry of Economic Development was held at Nasandhura Palace Hotel today.  The workshop was inaugurated by Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Honorable Ahmed Shafeeu.

During the opening remarks Honorable Ahmed Shafeeu stated:

‘ Maldives is a country with a narrow export base and a high dependence on imports for most of our economic activities.  As such, the issue of “Quality Infrastructure” becomes critical to us in ensuring the best imported and locally produced products for our consumers. Alternatively, it is also important to us from a producer angle, in ensuring that we get the best value for our one and only export, fishery products.

He also stated ‘..Establishing a quality infrastructure system nationally, as a service oriented economy, I cannot over emphasize the importance of establishing service standards and related quality infrastructure to protect the rights of the consumers and service providers. Emphasizing standards and quality aspects in both goods and service market, I believe, is important for Maldives to position itself as niche destination for service related investments and a producer of high-quality, environment friendly products.

He added further ‘I am hopeful that the current discussions with PTB Germany, SAARC Secretariat and the Government of Maldives on establishing a national accreditation focal point will materialize in the near future.”

Mr. Venkat Balakrishman, also addressed the participants on behalf of Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC)/ International Accreditation forum during the opening ceremony.

Participants from Maldives Seafood Processors and Exporters Association, Maldives Food & Drug Authority, Maldives Polytechnic, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and Ministry of Economic Development participated in this workshop. The main objectives of this workshop is to create necessary awareness and understanding on this subject matter with the aim of creating an enabling environment to embrace, adopt and adhere to internationally recognized standards by the producers and consumers.

The awareness workshop is a follow up event of the first SAARC Expert Group (SEGA), on Accreditation held on 3-4 September 2012. Representatives from eight SAARC member countries shared their experience on all aspects of Accreditation and update on new developments on regional and international level related to accreditation. A presentation was also given on PTB approach to capacity building in quality infrastructure towards the end of the workshop.

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