Egypt Secures Strategic Membership at ARSO
Taarek Refaat
In a notable diplomatic achievement, Egypt has been elected to both the Board of Directors and the Standards Management Committee (SMC) of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), reinforcing its position as a regional leader in quality infrastructure and industrial development.
Represented by the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOSQ), the country secured the prestigious seats during ARSO's 31st General Assembly, held this week with participation from 34 African nations — the largest attendance in the organization's history.
The elections were fiercely contested, with only 12 countries earning seats on the Board and six selected for the influential Standards Management Committee. Egypt now joins an elite group of nations, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, in shaping the continent's standardization roadmap through the SMC. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors now includes Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, and others.
"This victory reflects the deep trust our African partners place in Egyptian expertise and our long-standing commitment to advancing quality systems across the continent," said Eng. Khaled Sofy, Head of EOSQ, following the announcement.
Sofy credited the achievement to strategic national support, particularly from Vice Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Gen. Kamel El-Wazir, noting that 'Egypt's voice in regional and international quality platforms continues to grow stronger thanks to sustained government backing.'
The General Assembly also saw several key milestones:
The election of Botsile Kebapetse as ARSO's new President for the 2025–2028 term, succeeding Prof. Alex Dodoo.
The admission of The Gambia as ARSO's 44th member state, signaling growing continental cohesion around unified quality standards.
Egypt's new roles in ARSO are expected to enhance its influence on policy-making related to industrial standardization and technical regulations. Officials say this will play a pivotal role in accelerating intra-African trade, reducing technical barriers, and supporting the goals of Agenda 2063 — the African Union's blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development.
'Being at the heart of ARSO's leadership allows us not just to contribute but to help steer regional industrial policy in line with global standards,' Sofy emphasized.
The outcome cements Egypt's reputation as a powerhouse in the standardization space, with broader implications for trade facilitation, product safety, and cross-border industrial cooperation across Africa.
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