East African bloc launches 2025 edition of regional quality awards

DAR ES SALAAM - The East African Community (EAC) has launched the 2025 edition of the EAC Regional Quality Awards, designed to promote and celebrate a culture of quality across the member states, the regional bloc said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 2025 edition of the awards, unveiled at the EAC headquarters in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha on Monday night, is expected to build upon the success of the inaugural 2024 edition, which took place in Uganda and drew widespread participation and enthusiasm.

According to the statement, the primary objective of the EAC Regional Quality Awards is to foster a culture of quality within the region by encouraging the adoption of standards and quality management practices by EAC enterprises.

The awards seek to stimulate interest in quality management practices and excellence among EAC enterprises and encourage sustainable competitiveness by recognising organisations that excel in adopting international standards, the statement said.

Speaking during the launch, EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva said the awards have grown into one of the most consistent and impactful regional initiatives.

"I am pleased to note that over 40 enterprises, small, medium, and large, from across diverse sectors, including services, have benefited from this competition," said Nduva.

The statement also said the winners will be honored at a formal ceremony in December in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization of eight member states, namely Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with a mission to promote economic, political, and social integration in East Africa.