Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, has underscored the importance of accreditation, saying it can be leveraged as a “powerful tool” to promote economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability.
Senator Cummins expressed this view in a message to mark World Accreditation Day, which will be observed tomorrow, Friday, June 9.
This year’s theme: Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade, focuses on how accreditation supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), playing a crucial role in ensuring quality, reliability, and trust in the global marketplace.
The Minister said: “It is not only a facilitator of trade but also a catalyst for sustainable development, as reflected in the SDGs, which provide a roadmap for building a better future. We recognise that accreditation is intricately linked to several of these goals in many ways, including helping to alleviate poverty by enabling businesses to access global markets, generate income, and create employment opportunities, thus contributing to poverty reduction.
“In Barbados, one of the country’s priorities is food safety and quality standards being met. Through fostering trust in agricultural and food supply chains, accreditation promotes access to safe and nutritious food for all. Accredited medical laboratories, testing facilities, and healthcare institutions help safeguard public health, by ensuring accurate diagnostics, reliable treatments, and the provision of safe healthcare services, thus supporting good health and well-being among our citizens.”
Senator Cummins noted that accreditation promotes gender equality by providing equal opportunities for female-owned businesses to participate in international trade, supporting their economic empowerment and fostering inclusive growth.
In order to reduce inequalities in the business environment, the Minister said the relevant authorities must ensure that products, services, and systems meet the same quality standards, regardless of geographical location, thus creating a level playing field for businesses.
She expressed the view that there are many unexploited possibilities for the sustainable utilisation of the marine environment.
Senator Cummins suggested that the unexploited possibilities should be supported by “ensuring that accredited testing and monitoring bodies provide accurate assessments of water quality and environmental impact”.