BSI partners with UNCTAD to enable digitalisation in developing countries through international standards

The UK National Standard Body (BSI) announced its partnership with the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) e-Trade for all initiative to buttress trust in the digital economies of developing countries by promoting awareness, development, and use of international standards. To this aim, the BSI embarked on introducing standards into the eTrade readiness assessment exercise, which measures the barriers to e-commerce and digitalisation, and piloting this in Kenya. ‘The work that has been started in Kenya is an important first step towards building trust in the digital economies of developing countries. Working with this network of 34 members we hope to accelerate the uptake of digital technology in developing countries, which is fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals,’ said BSI Director-General, Standards Scott Steedman.