Publications and Resources

This document is an excerpt based on the book “Export Quality Management: A Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Exporters", published by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and PTB in 2011. It gives an overview on the main aspects to be considered by small and medium-sized companies to enter the global marketplace. Aspects to be considered are explained, such as standards, technical regulations and sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of export markets, laboratory procedures and accreditation. The document provides a holistic perspective of the main pillars of Quality Infrastructure and its implications for increased trade and development.

World Bank and PTB have jointly developed the first-ever comprehensive Quality Infrastructure diagnostics and reform guide. The guide takes into consideration the achievements and lessons learned from previous reform experiences and provides a set of good practices. It includes access to an online diagnostic tool that uses a systematic methodology to assess a country´s Quality Infrastructure ecosystem. This diagnostic is critical for understanding and identifying the gaps and shortfalls quickly so that countries can efficiently and effectively identify areas for reform. The guide is designed to help development partners and governments assess and analyze a country´s Quality Infrastructure ecosystem; identify issues and gaps, and provide recommendations for how to bridge those gaps and build institutional capacities.

This annex to the toolkit "Ensuring Quality to Access Global Markets" developed by World Bank and PTB contains the methodology for a comprehensive assessment of a country´s Quality Infrastructure (QI). The outcome of such an evaluation will be a detailed report on the status and efficacy of the QI of a country. The Comprehensive Diagnostic Tool has a companion -”the Rapid Diagnostic Tool” - that allows for a much quicker but less detailed assessment of a country´s QI.

The document summarizes the Quality Infrastructure (QI) diagnostic and reform toolkit, developed by The World Bank Group and PTB. The document outlines the importance of Quality Infrastructure. The toolkit was created to help development partners and country governments analyze the Quality Infrastructure ecosystem and develop a coherent offering to support Quality Infrastructure reforms and capacity development.

This study was carried out in the framework of the project “Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency†which aims to enhance the range of services of Mexican Quality Infrastructure organisations related to efficiency and quality of renewable energy systems. The study focuses on solar thermal energy, photovoltaic systems, and LEDs for energy efficiency. It guides Quality Infrastructure experts and stakeholders through the activities implemented in the project and facilitates recommendations to promote Quality Infrastructure in the aforementioned areas.