Rwanda yesterday joined the rest of the world to celebrate the Metrology Day to enhance the importance of measurements and fair trade.

World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signature by representatives of seventeen nations of the Metre Convention on May 20, 1875.

The initiative aims at establishing uniformity of measurement through a global collaboration in the industrial, commercial and societal applications, Antoine Mukunzi, the director of testing laboratories at Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) said.

The day was celebrated under the theme, "Measurement and light” and, according to Mukunzi, is geared towards highlighting the key role light and optical technologies play in sustainable development.

Philibert Zimulinda, the National Metrology Division Manager,  says it is critical to emphasise measurements for competitiveness and the ability of a product to meet consumer and user requirements.

This is also critical for public health and sustainable management of life, he said.

 He disclosed that the standards body is planning to establish two new laboratories that will assist in the measurement of light and cancer treatment equipment.

"These state of the art facilities will greatly boost the country’s  capacity in the health and energy sectors,” Zimulinda told The New Times.

According to experts, measurement is an essential factor for customer and supplier relationship and in the absence of reliable measurements, it is impossible to guarantee that subcontracted parts will match the customer’s requirements.

Despite mechanisms put in place to protect consumers, there are still many fake measuring scale equipments on the market.

 "We call upon the standards body to strengthen its market surveillance systems in regard to this matter,” Zephyr  Mutanguha, managing director THS Limited said.

 Efforts by government to put in place an independent organ and the law that would boost consumer protection are in the offing.

And, once this is in place, It is expected to  address the question of blame game which has manifested along the value chain between producers and consumers, but also help foster value addition, and quality among producers.