09 Sep 2024

 Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) has approved product certification for Pipe World, a company that manufactures PVC and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in Selebi Phikwe.

Pipe World which officially started operations in January was facilitated by SPEDU with the aim to produce pipes which can be used in the construction industry such as sewer lines and electrical works and also in conveyance of potable water as well as irrigation works.

Handing over the BOBS certification to the company during BOBS Certification handover ceremony held at SPEDU on Friday, Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Beauty Manake said it was a critical milestone achieved by the company as it ventured into production of pipes with intentions to grow and penetrate local market with quality products.

She said her ministry through BOBS ensured that products produced in the  country conformed to minimum standards aligned with industry practice as well as international standards. She added that  BOBS subscribed to the international body of standardisation as well as continental regional bodies involved in product standardisation.

Ms Manake highlighted that standardisation was meant to ensure that products were produced accordingly for customer protection, stressing that standards ensured that producers enjoyed prime time for their products, promote general quality of products and also used to resolve trade disputes.

Furthermore, she explained that Botswana was a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area which included 54 of the 55 member states of the African Union.

 “This initiative exposes businesses to the 1.2 billion people with a combined GDP of more than US$3.4 billion . As a country which is experiencing a number of reforms and developments through national development plans, she said there was need to adhere to quality standards to avoid wastage through rejection as a result of poor quality.

“Pipe World managed to meet the specifications of the standard and thus given the permission to use the BOBS certification license and mark,” she said.

Ms Manake applauded Pipe World directors for their commitment, zeal, resilience and patience during this process, a very engaging process that often involved repeating procedures.

During this process, she said the company experienced some losses due to the certification process as there were no sales made during this time.

Despite this, Ms Manake said Pipe World endured and ensured that the certification exercise was completed and delivered within a specified time, adding that the company is now sure that any product coming from their plant was of quality and would also bear a mark testifying its quality.

“I implore and encourage procuring entities in Botswana to use the products produced from this plant,” she said.

For his part, BOBS’ Commercial Enterprises Director, Mr Keeper Morgan said this certification was the 7th to be awarded to a company in the SPEDU region, adding the SPEDU region had embraced implementation of standards in manufacturing.

He said this certification gave such companies access to global markets, urging companies to market what they are producing.

“Pipe World are already supplying a global product.”

Mr Morgan explained that it took some time to issue the company with certification.  “The way the product is configured you cannot test it in a day, whatever we do we do it periodically and following the due process required internationally.”

He urged other manufacturing companies to follow suit by participating in standardization.

Caretaker Chief Executive Officer for SPEDU, Ms Lesedi Kgotlele applauded Pipe World for this achievement.

She said SPEDU has been tasked with reviving the economy of the region and focused on agri-business and agro processing, manufacturing, ICT, Tourism and Real Estate among others.

Ms Kgotlele said companies investing in the SPEDU region should not focus on SPEDU Investment incentives but should go further to improve the quality of their products by attaining certification and BOBS mark.

She also urged procuring entities to support companies in the SPEDU region by purchasing products manufactured in the region.

Pipe World Director, Ms Hongtao Yu thanked BOBS for the certification which would go a long way to help the company improve quality of their products.

The company which invested P40million into this project has employed 20 people with the intention to increase this number as production increases.ENDS