INAUGURAL MEETING
OF THE NATIONAL QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOCAL POINTS
05 March, 2021 (10.30am – 12pm)
Opening Remarks by the Deputy Secretary General,
Dr. Filimon Manoni
Senior Officials
National QI Focal Points of the Forum Island Countries
Ladies and gentlemen
A very good morning,
It is a real pleasure to welcome you all to the first meeting of the National Quality Infrastructure Focal Points and the QI Unit of the Secretariat.
After years of consultations with development partners and international QI institutions, the Secretariat can proudly announce the start of the first Pacific Quality Infrastructure project in the Pacific. The Pacific Quality Infrastructure (PQI) project is part of the broader Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative or PQII.
Quality Infrastructure has been identified as one of the priorities of the Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy 2020-2025, due to its significance in promoting and sustaining trade development. QI can also play an important role in mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19 and support post-COVID recovery.
Focus of the PQI project will be to establish regional QI frameworks for standardisation, metrology, conformity assessment, and quality promotion for all Forum Island Countries. It will also provide support to the Pacific Least Developed Countries - Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu in addressing quality challenges of priority export sectors.
This meeting brings together the newly appointed National QI Focal Points of the Forum Island Countries. As the PQI project is a regional project, it requires a strong link between the main implementation entity, the QI Unit of the Secretariat and the Forum Island Countries.
You, the National QI Focal Points shall act as this link representing the main contact point for the PIFS QI Unit on QI related matters in your countries. Your role is an essential element of the governance structure of the regional QI system. It will be complemented by the national focal points for standardisation, metrology, conformity assessment, and quality promotion – which still need to be appointed.
Senior Pacific Representatives, it is now up to you to make the most of this unique opportunity to shape the Pacific QI Initiative and to support the PQI project so that it delivers great results in helping our economies thrive and improve quality of life through reliable and recognised QI services. Colleagues, I wish you well in your new role in this very important project.
Thank you.
Check against Delivery
