Bajan exporters ‘need to embrace quality standards to become competitive’

If Barbados is ever to develop a sustainable economy built on diversity and growth, the export community needs “a culture of quality”, the head of the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) said Wednesday.

BNSI acting director Haydn Rhynd was speaking at an online webinar that outlined the BNSI’s future work plans and other developmental projects over the next several months.

Rhynd told attendees that the private and public sectors needed to focus on establishing quality standards, noting that international investors now require strong levels of quality assurance for goods and services to enable partnerships and financing.

“The result of such a culture defined by quality is clearly demonstrated not only by financial results but with the country’s ability to obtain what we call delight, customer delight at every level of engagement,” he said. “With this in mind, the development of a country’s NQI (national quality infrastructure) as you have heard is critical.

“The BNSI is one of the main drivers of NQI which is a critical enabler for social progress, economic development, participation in international trade and the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Setting up an effective and efficient NQI system is one of the most constructive steps that a developing nation can implement on the path towards establishing a thriving economy.”

The BNSI acting director noted that several industries around the globe are currently experiencing greater restrictions on the export and importation of select goods which often come in the form of increased regulations for items to cross international borders.

Rhynd revealed that the Mottley administration has agreed on a National Quality Policy, aimed at creating the high levels of quality standards needed for Barbadian industries to be competitive globally.

“I am pleased to indicate that the Cabinet of Barbados has approved the drafting of a Barbados National Quality Policy, created by the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship,” he told the forum. “This quality policy upon implementation is expected to facilitate Barbados’ access to global markets, and enhance the competitiveness of our goods and services.

“Produce and strengthen the capacity of micro, small, and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs, to flourish and succeed in the domestic, intraregional and extra-regional markets. The policy will establish the intuitional framework needed for the implementation of quality initiatives in virtually all segments of the Barbadian society.”

BNSI is also partnering with Government to establish a National Quality Council which will be responsible for the implementation of the National Quality Policy, he added.

Rhynd said: “The intention is to have the private sector represented on the council when it’s established, and this gives a voice to the sector in the developmental process. This ensures full transparency, full impartiality, [and] the council will have other governmental and non-governmental agencies represented. This ensures that the country’s process in developing technical regulations will always be compliant, especially with regards to agreements on technical barriers to trade.” (SB)