In conjunction with the 8th Training Workshop of the East and South Africa Laboratory Managers Association (ESALAMA), the launching of an Africa Laboratory Managers Association as well as the signatory session of the Ethiopian Laboratory Association are occurring during a one week workshop being held in Addis Ababa. This is seen as a key event and an important step towards a competent Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Sector.
Improving the quality infrastructure of a country is seen as a vital step in securing societies needs in terms of food safety, environmental protection and increased trade – especially exports. The meeting of 70 participants from 13 countries serves as a discussion forum for the role of testing and calibration laboratories in trade and the improvement of quality through comparison of test results and accreditation of laboratories.
Organized and hosted by ESALAMA and the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, the event will also prepare the signatory session of the Ethiopian Laboratory Association.
The Engineering Capacity Building Program (ecbp) has worked closely with the quality infrastructure institutions of Ethiopia over the past four years, helping to ensure that proper systems and services are in place. ecbp has involved the German metrology body PTB as one of the key sponsors and consultants of this conference in line with its aim of improving the quality of Ethiopian goods.
Near the conclusion of the meeting a press conference was held with the organizers and sponsors, during which they pointed out the milestones of the meeting and gave details about further developments in the field. The press conference was held on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 10:30am in the Imperial Hotel.