Firms urged to attain standards certification

standards to win market acceptance, an official said yesterday.
Zimtrade board member Mr Mackenzie Mazimbe said this was also helpful in ensuring efficient and cost-effective production.
“Producing goods and services according to international standards brings about efficiency that in turn reduces production costs and also leads to easier access to markets,” he said.
He was speaking at Zimtrade’s ISO 9001: 2008 standards re-certification by the Standard Association of Zimbabwe.
Many companies, Mr Mazimbe said, were complaining about being squeezed by imports that have flooded the country.
“We say to them produce a quality product using the best practices and you will not lose your market share,” he said. “The export market is very competitive as producers meet players from all over the world.
“Our message to our producers remains consistent – get certified and gain consumer confidence. Certification is the visa to global trading,” Mr Mazimbe said.
Speaking at the same occasion, SAZ director-general Mrs Eve Gadzikwa said companies should comply with market standard requirements to remain viable.
“Trade promotion organisations such as ZimTrade are demanded by the exporting community to maintain high levels of standards on goods in response to customer needs,” she said.
“We are delighted ZimTrade has retained its premium position as the trade promotion organisation of choice in Zimbabwe and beyond,” she said. – New Ziana.