Africa-Press – Lesotho. In an effort to assist local businesses gain access to the international markets, the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Wednesday announced the operationalization
of the Lesotho Standards Institution (LSI). The Minster of Trade and Industry Dr. Thabiso Molapo said they are very pleased to finally announce the implementation of LSI which is the national standard body
of Lesotho. Molapo added that LSI is mandated to develop and publish national standards and to carry out testing activities. It is also to provide certification and inspection services, conduct training to capacitate their
industry and to support public policy and regulation to protect the society. Molapo further noted that countries around the world have taken different approaches
in shaping their national standards bodies. “Our story is shaped by rigorous studies and consultations leading us to a model that is unique and best suited
for our economy,” he said. He emphasized that they deliberately used a mix of the modern world, benchmarking against the likes of Sweden and Iceland in
Europe. He said at the same time they are putting it in context by studying models used by their counterparts in the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) region being Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa (SA), Zimbabwe and Mauritius. He said he believes that LSI has assumed the best model to purposely respond swiftly to the needs of the private sector. He
pointed out that the LSI Act was published in 2014 and its establishment marks one of the ministry’s greatest milestones. He added that 2020 presented
challenges that stretched the country’s economy to the limit with dire consequences on the livelihoods of many. He said the ministry together with its
partners and stakeholders have been working tirelessly to assist government to implement its plan of creating jobs mainly through private sector-led initiatives.
He said the ministry has secured markets for local products under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) and the newly implemented Continental Africa Free Trade Area.
Molapo said it is important therefore that they use LSI to its fullest extent possible so as to secure their share in the vast African market and beyond.
This move is in line with priorities stipulated in the 2020/21 budget speech aimed at growing the economy by increasing production of high value products for
exports. He said the Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II) purposely sets a new outlook for Lesotho’ economy, putting more emphasis on developing export led
trade. “For this reason, creation of the LSI is much more important now than before,” he said. He said with LSI in place, they expect to significantly
reduce compliance costs which are especially burdensome for small producers. Ministry of Trade and Industry Principal Secretary (PS) Maile Masoebe said AGOA in
Lesotho is normally known for dealing with textile industries and there are more opportunities in it. “We were not able to explore those opportunities because
we did not have this LSI body,” he said. He added that LSI is opening doors for many Basotho who produce local products and it came at the right time when the Ministry encourages Basotho entrepreneurs to overtake the business world.
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