Ministry Backs Accreditation as a Tool for Industrial Growth and SME Empowerment

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national and cross-border accreditation systems as a foundation for industrial development and SME empowerment, during the pre-conference session of the International Accreditation Conference 2025 held at the Argyle Grand Hotel, Nairobi.
The event, organized by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) in collaboration with key stakeholders including the Government of Kenya, Trademark Africa, PTB, BSI, UGANAS, regulators, academia and international accreditation bodies, brought together stakeholders to align strategies ahead of the main conference set for November 2025.
The Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Mr. Abubakar Hassan, who delivered the keynote address, emphasized the critical role accreditation plays in Kenya’s investment agenda—spanning attraction, facilitation, enablement and retention.
“This preconference is more than a curtain-raiser. It is a strategic platform to strengthen Kenya’s accreditation landscape, which underpins our industrial growth and global competitiveness,” said PS Abubakar.
With this year’s World Accreditation Day theme being “Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)”, the PS noted that SMEs—constituting over 90% of Kenya’s private enterprises—are vital to the country's economic transformation. He stressed that accreditation enables SMEs to access wider markets, enhance quality, boost productivity and build resilience in global value chains.
“Through accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies, our SMEs can demonstrate compliance with global standards, gain consumer trust and scale sustainably,” he stated.
The event featured discussions on the sustainability and funding of accreditation systems, global health accreditation and the role of innovation in improving quality infrastructure. Experts explored how accreditation strengthens maternal and newborn health outcomes, supports diagnostic innovation and builds credible systems for health and trade.
Dr. Walter Ongeti, CEO of KENAS, reaffirmed the agency’s role in promoting internationally recognized standards through its signatory status with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). He noted that KENAS continues to facilitate access to global markets by ensuring Kenyan products and services meet international quality benchmarks.
The session also highlighted the importance of philanthropic and private sector support in sustaining accreditation and the value of professional development and cross-border collaboration in achieving harmonized global standards.
“Accreditation is more than compliance—it is a promise to deliver quality, build trust and drive inclusive economic progress,” said PS Abubakar.
The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry pledged continued support to KENAS and called on stakeholders to sponsor and actively participate in the upcoming International Accreditation Conference in November this year.