Dr. Emile Bienvenu, RSB Board of Directors Chairman delivering his welcome remarks

On 26th September 2017, Honourable Vincent Munyeshyaka, Minister of Trade and Industry accompanied by senior officials in the Ministry paid visit to Rwanda Standards Board (RSB).
The Minister was welcomed by RSB Board of Directors and Management. In his welcome remarks, the Board of Directors Chairman, Dr. Emile Bienvenu, expressed his gratitude to the visit and congratulated the Minister upon his new appointment as Minister of Trade and Industry. He explained that the visit was an opportunity to share an overview of the institution and standardization services in Rwanda in particular, achievements registered, vision and future plans as well as to acquire advice towards continual improvement in daily mission of the institution.
 

Director General of RSB shares with Hon. Minister and Delegation an overview of RSB

The Director General of RSB, Mr. Raymond Murenzi, presented to Hon. Minister the overview update on RSB performance namely progress in standards development, conformity assessment (testing for quality and safety, certification), Metrology and particularly updated visitors on the ZAMUKANA UBUZIRANENGE program recently launched to measure and facilitate Food Safety Maturity Model (FSMM) for local SMEs.  Also, the DG notified Hon. Minister and visitors of the status of Quality Assurance in Rwanda and updated him of the progress of establishment of Rwanda Inspectorate and Competition Authority to take up quality assurance functions.
 

Hon Minister toured RSB facilities
 

In testing laboratories

After touring RSB facilities including Standards library, National Quality Testing, Medical and Pharmaceutical laboratories and Metrology laboratories, Hon Minister Honourable Minister commended RSB achievements in standardization: “What has RSB achieved is fascinating and commendable. The Ministry and the country are proud of achievements registered in standardization and my advice is to even keep up the gear to achieve more. That is the vision of the country and that expressed our expectations to you.”

He reminded three expectations the Ministry has on RSB including: to support industrial development by helping Companies to meet standards and improve trade at national and international level and keeping in mind that Rwanda is transitioning towards export oriented economy. He also recalled that Rwanda will drastically improve its industrial sector in these coming seven years and RSB will be key in ensuring standards compliance of industries.

The Minister commended ZAMUKANA UBUZIRANENGE Program to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and advised further suggestion of future focus on big companies as well to move in the same spirit.

On the second and third expectations of the Ministry to RSB to protect industries from unfair competition and ensure and protect consumer safety he emphasized protecting SMEs meeting standards requirements against those with sub-standard products; and a need to ensure and protect public health and safety of consumers from sub-standard products. RSB was also advised to engage different institutions in awareness campaign on standard compliance to SMEs and general public including the Ministry.
He finally reminded that the function of standards has enabled trade development, cross-border goods exchange and making Rwanda a business friendly environment and requested keeping the pace, or even do better and take part in fast-tracking of industry development and make standardization an opportunity in doing business in general.