VIENNA, 1 June 2012 - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has published a catalogue of tools and methodologies for Boosting Competitiveness with Quality and Standards. The catalogue serves to introduce UNIDO’s unique set of resources that can strengthen competitiveness through the application of quality and standards.

The tools and methodologies available and those under development assist with assessing the current status, identifying gaps and thus facilitating related improvement of relevant institutions, producers and other stakeholders.

The resources:

• provide pertinent information for policymakers to facilitate policy and decision-making;
• support Quality Infrastructure institutions and conformity assessment bodies in assessing and strengthening their capacity to provide competent services in line with market needs;
• help producers enhance their compliance capacity; and
• create a sound understanding of quality and standards compliance as a driver for competitiveness and market access.

Stakeholders can access publicly available tools that provide and help to visualize useful information, and free online training courses, as well as guidance documents for implementing a particular methodology, standard or any other practice. Most tools and resources offered on the UNIDO Knowledge Hub are publicly accessible and free of charge (though some require guidance by a specialized trainer and are only available for use upon prior approval and adequate training).

For more information, contact:

UNIDO’s Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business

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