By Samsideen Ceesay
The Gambia Standards Bureau in collaboration with Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) on Thursday convened a high-level symposium on quality for sustainable development and industrialization. The high-level convergence was held at the UTG Faculty of Law Auditorium.
The event was meant to raise awareness on the impact of quality and standards, place quality issues high on the strategic agenda of firms and policy makers as it seeks to improve, modernize and implement our national quality systems.
Speaking at the event, the director general, The Gambia Standards Bureau, Papa Secka, said: The involvement of the private sector as well as the educational institutions is of paramount importance for the successful implementation of the quality policy, and hence the bureau continues to strengthen its engagement and collaboration with these institutions.”
He added: “Implementation of the quality policy plan will significantly improve the business environment, and strengthen the trade, industrial and productive capacities for enhanced growth, employment and poverty reduction.
“In addition, its implementation will raise quality consciousness amongst the producers, suppliers and the consumers, and it is an undertaking to introduce and maintain a quality culture in public life and throughout society.”
Also speaking at the event, Raimund Moser, the project manager, Youth Empowerment Project, noted that quality is key ingredient and key determinant of economic competitiveness. Noting that without quality, without compliance system and standards, domestic or compliance to international standards company will not be able to grow create more choices for citizens.
“There is a direct correlation between quality and job creation. We are investing in quality particularly looking at the efficiency, the effectiveness and competitiveness by medium sizes and enterprises through that we are expecting this country to grow and to create more jobs in the process.”
Dr Gregory H Watson, renowned quality expert and the chairman and manager Business Excellence Solutions Limited, Espoo in Finland said integrity, truthfulness and excellence are integral parts of quality management.
“Quality is not only about standards but continuous learning to adapt the changing needs of the market,” he said, adding that replicating goodness and ensure that bad things don’t happen.
