Trade Minister David Osborne Sees Need for Raising Consumer Awareness

Montserrat’s Honourable Trade minister David Osborne has underscored the need to raise awareness among consumers, regulators and industry as to the importance of standardization to the global economy.

Mr. Osborne was at the time joining the annual global observance and celebration of World Standards Day October 14th, 2018.

Each year, several international organizations celebrate World Standards Day which is a means of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of thousands of experts worldwide who develop the voluntary technical agreements that are published as international standards.

Minister Osborne said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and the Environment, through its trade division was partnering in the drive to raise awareness.

He said to commemorate the day, the Trade and Quality Infrastructure Division generated some promotional tips featuring regionally-approved standards within the agro-processing industry, small business and tourism sectors.

Mr. Osborne says these tips, which were featured on Radio Montserrat on the day were designed to educate both the suppliers of goods and services as well as consumers.

The trade minister says the efforts to promote these standards are dedicated to advancing the island’s ability to penetrate niche export markets with products that are made in Montserrat.

Mr Osborne says to do this, Montserrat must be competitive with the image and brand having a global appeal.

The day was celebrate under the theme: International Standards and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Fourth Revolution referes to the evolving technologies which are concealing the traditional boundaries between the physical, digital and biological worlds