| Project Detail |
Thematic Priority
Advancing Economic Competitiveness
LocationArmenia
The Republic of Armenia being a member of the European Union (EU) Neighborhood Policy since 2004, entered into the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the (EU) on 1 March 2021. One key part of the CEPA that affects trade and the inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) of Armenia is Chapter 3 on “Technical Barriers to Trade”. Utilizing the provisions of this chapter will improve the trade competitiveness of Armenia however, critical weaknesses currently exist that limit Armenia’s ability to meaningfully benefit from this chapter of the agreement. A country’s ability to reduce and possibly eliminate technical barriers to trade is directly related to the strength and international recognition of its Quality Infrastructure System (QIS). One critical component of this QIS that ensures the quality of measurements used to demonstrate conformance to standard specifications is metrology. Metrology, defined as the science of measurement and its application, is currently underdeveloped in Armenia which leaves the Armenian industry and stakeholders to obtain calibrations of their measuring instruments from overseas suppliers, usually at a high cost due to transportation and travel costs. An assessment of the weaknesses in the metrology system within Armenia reveals that while Armenia is a member of COOMET, the Euro-Asian Regional Metrology Organization (RMO) of the BIPM, the NBSM does not possess the technical competence to meaningfully contribute to the technical work of COOMET. Further, the ability to fully benefit from this membership is limited because Armenia is neither a member of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) nor the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). The NBSM’s lack of technical competence comes from an absence of the basic resources including weak legislative and governance structures, limited financial resources, no suitable laboratory infrastructure, lack of equipment as well as limited and underdeveloped human resources The project, financed by the EU and implemented by UNIDO will support to upgrade the Metrology system of Armenia through institutional strengthening of the National Body for Standards and Metrology, improving legal, regulatory and governance system in line with international recommendations and best practices, increase Armenia’s participation in the international and regional metrology communities as well as interaction with the European Association of Metrology Institutes (EURAMET). The project will help to establish 4 calibration laboratories by purchasing, installing and commissioning the measurement standards, measuring instruments and equipment required to develop the required calibration and measurement capabilities, and preparing them for international accreditation. As a result of this project sustainable and internationally recognized metrology services will be provided to stakeholders.By implementing this Action, Armenia will be able to meaningfully use the benefits of CEPA, improve the quality of goods produced in Armenia, and ensure the international recognition of tests performed in Armenia resulting in increased trade with the EU and other foreign markets. The benefits of Quality Infrastructure (QI) are not limited to trade, a robust QI also contributes to other areas including, but not limited to, food safety and security, health, climate change and the environment. Once again, the EU stands by Armenia and strengthen the Armenian Government’s strategic and technical capacity to plan and implement structural reforms.” The intervention will be undertaken over 39 months at a cost of EUR 4,100,000 with the EU providing EUR 4,000,000 and UNIDO contributing EUR 100,000. |
