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Local Standards in Africa and Chinese Construction Firms
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Morley, David - The Cambridge introduction to creative writing (2011) - libgen.li
| Local Standards in Africa and Chinese Construction Firms Foreign firms entering into Africa, including Chinese construction firms, need to pass the quality test to satisfy consumer demands on road construction. The WBAATI business case studies covered several Chinese companies operating in Senegal and Tanzania that reported that their companies complied with domestic standards in the respective countries. A Chinese construction firm in Tanzania indicated that it needed to keep its operation license current. The firm has met requirements on health and safety regulations. The firm has not had any accidents. The firm pays per year to be certified properly, which is a significant expense for the firm. However, the firm is aware of building its reputation in African markets. Construction standards in Senegal are aligned with French standards. A Chinese construction firm in Senegal said it had been applying Senegalese standards. According to the firm, these standards are comparable to Chinese standards. The firm recognizes the importance of gaining a reliable reputation as a provider of high quality products in construction services in Africa. Source: World Bank staff. 05-Chap5:05-Chap5 10/10/06 11:14 AM Page 247 248 AFRICA ’ S SILK ROAD : CHINA AND INDIA ’ S NEW ECONOMIC FRONTIER Capacity building among African firms in complying with international standards is an urgent agenda item for private sector development in African countries. Only a small percentage of firms in Africa have obtained ISO certification (figure 5.1). Many surveyed firms in Africa report that product quality and low demand are the most important factors that affect their firm’s ability to export. 6 African countries can increase their exports if firms in those countries have sufficient capacity to comply with global technical standards. However, standards and regulations raise production costs for firms seeking to export from developing countries. In Africa, the costs to get certified under ISO 9000, ISO 9002, and ISO 14000 are particularly high among small and medium enterprises. Apart from the issue of capacity shortage in meeting global standards, African firms are also short on access to updated information on standards. For example, Sub-Saharan countries are not well represented in international standards meetings and relevant processes. Only 34 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa belong to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO. As such, only the local standards bureau and development agencies in individual countries provide firms with relevant information on standards for their products. Lack of information on the new standards potentially affects firms ability to market their products in international markets. There is a clear need fora high-impact awareness campaign and information centers from which information about standards and quality is readily accessible. FIGURE 5.1 Download 5.17 Mb. Share with your friends:
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