By Augustine Octavius, ugustineoctavius@gmail.com
The West African Quality System Program has awarded prizes to three companies for winning the first edition of the National Quality Award 2017 in Monrovia.
The West African regional quality organization awarded the first ECOWAS prize to the Duraplast Incorporated, while Metalum Corporation and Fouani Brothers Corporation were awarded the national first prizes.
The West African Quality System Program is an organ of ECOWAS that monitors the quality of goods produced in the sub region.
According to the program, to win an award from the program, the company must ensure that it uses at least 50 percent local materials in producing the finished product. It shall ensure that it exhibits social cooperate responsibility in the community it operates, pays taxes up to date and is in accordance with minimum wage bill.
Speaking during the presentation of certificates on behalf of Commerce and Industry Minister, Prof. Wilson Tarpeh, Deputy Minister, Nyenma Wisner, commended the management of Duraplast Corporation for winning the ECOWAS Quality Award.
He encouraged companies to participate in the second national quality award organized by the West African Quality System Program.
“The goal of this award,” Minister Wisner went on, “is to promote and review the excellence performance in quality awareness understand the requirements of quality excellence of products and services of local manufacturers.”
“It will build better business image and increase market shares,” he said; adding: “It is my hope that local businesses and industries take advantage of this great opportunity of ensuring their products and services are in aligned with best international practices.”
In remarks, the Special Assistant to ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Lola Osunlalu said the national quality award was introduced by ECOWAS purposely to encourage companies making finished products in West Africa to produce good quality and exhibit fair social cooperate responsibilities to the communities they are operating.
According to Mr. Osunlalu, any company in the West African region that uses at least produces goods using 50 percent from local materials is automatically qualified to export goods to any part of the region without hindrance.
For his part, the President of the Liberia Business Association, James Stutter encouraged the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to ensure the mass participation in another time
In remarks, the Secretary General of the Liberia Chambers of Commerce, Saramatu Duncan thanked the ministry and international partners for organizing the program.
She said there are lots of Liberian companies that are qualified to participate in the program but they were not aware of the procedure.
The program was graced by representatives from the Liberia Business Association, the Liberia Chambers of Commerce, civil society organizations, among others.
The program was sponsored by the European Union, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and ECOWAS.