On 22 December 2015, the Beninese Agency for Standardization and Quality Management (ABeNOR).
Focal Point agency for the West Africa Quality System Programme (WAQSP), presented the certification process of the Beninese mark of conformity to standards, the NB Mark. At the same time, ABeNOR awarded the first official certificate of conformity of “soft drinks” products to the CEO of Lakhy Industry enterprise. This happened in front of 250 participants at a ceremony held in the presence of authorities of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Benin, represented by Mr. AdamAhanchede, Chief of Staff, and Mr. DjouléSabiBoum, Legal Technical Advisor of the Ministry and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of ABeNOR. Mr. Ahanchede used this opportunity to express to the European Union, ECOWAS and UNDP representing UNIDO in Benin, the sincere gratitude of the Minister for their significant contribution to the development of the national quality infrastructure.
The ceremony also provided a forum for two certified companies and a 4 star hotel to share experiences inthe field of quality: mobile company MOOV, winner of the 2014 UEMOA Quality Award in the large businesses category, mineral water production company FIFA, winner of the 2014 UEMOA Quality Award in the medium businesses category and Benin Royal hotel, recently rated 4 star hotel in the month of December 2015, host of the ceremony. This ceremony recorded six communications on the following themes:

- The various aspects of Quality Infrastructure in Benin, by GabinDegbey, Director of ABeNOR;

- Quality in the Hospitality industry: Control and certification, by Georges Legba, Director of Tourist Establishments in Benin;

- Product certification in ABeNOR: Case study of LIBS company in Benin, by Youssouf Mama Sika, Chief ofthe Certification Department of ABeNOR and NationalTechnical Coordinator (NTC) of WAQSP in Benin;

- The role of a laboratory in trade: Cases ofan accredited metrology laboratory and a testing laboratory, by Mireille Dehoue, Hygiene, Water and FoodSection (SHEA), National Health Laboratory (LNS);- The role of metrology in consumer protection and enhancement of products, by Gabriel Ahissou, Metrologist;

- ISO 9001:2008 certification: The situation in Benin, by Edwige de Souza, Intertek representative in Benin. After the meeting, three major resolutions were taken:

- Beninese companies will constantly be informed about quality standards held at ABeNOR, including on the opportunity to get the Kaweru certification “Hospitality in public services”;

- A database of certified companies will be established;

- Certification standards for small “maquis” (small local restaurants) will be developed.

Earlier during the day, a field trip was organized. It audited thirty restaurants in Cotonou that were given for the occasion hygiene kits (apron, towels) to improve their practices and ensure the quality of their products. Thirty public companies have benefited from on-site coaching on the Kaweru standard, with the aim of preparing for certification to this standard.