Strengthening networking and exchange: PTB at CAFMET and the workshop on quality infrastructure in Tunisia

PTB’s partner institutions and project teams have experienced some eventful weeks in North and West Africa and the Middle East, especially in Tunisia: With the participation in the 10^th International Conference on Metrology (CAFMET) in Hammamet and the shared organization of the workshop on quality infrastructure in Tunis, PTB created important momentum in terms of supraregional and cross-donor collaboration. The two events not only provided a place for expert lectures and discussions, but also particularly strengthened in-person communication and long-term networking of actors in the field of metrology and quality infrastructure.

A person is standing at the podium on a stage, where a presentation of PTB’s history is shown in the middle of the picture.

PTB keynote at the CAFMET conference 2025 on the topic of international cooperation in metrology. © Mays Masri

Cross-project commitment in African metrology: CAFMET conference in Hammamet

PTB participated in the 10^th Conférence Internationale de Métrologie (CAFMET) in Hammamet from 22 to 24 April 2025 and made several contributions. The keynote on the topic of “International cooperation in the field of metrology at PTB”, which was met with great interest and offered insights into PTB’s international partnerships and project work. The regional projects in the Economic Community of West African States (“Setting up regional metrology in the ECOWAS region”) and the African continent (“Alliance for product quality in Africa”) as well as the projects with Palestinian (“Supporting the national quality infrastructure”) and Tunisian partners (“Strengthening quality infrastructure for sustainable economic development in Tunisia – IQ.DED” and “Strengthening quality infrastructure for green hydrogen in Tunisia – IQ.H2V”) were presented together at PTB’s information booth, which provided further information and an opportunity for interesting conversations.

A special highlight was the visit of Fatma Thabet Chiboub, the Tunisian Minister for Industry, Mines and Energy, who was highly interested in PTB’s work at the information booth. The conference offered an excellent opportunity to solidify existing partnerships, to establish new connections and to network with partner institutions from different countries.

Four people are standing at an information booth in front of four roll-up banners, a display and information brochures.

PTB’s information booth at CAFMET 2025. From left to right: Franziska Schindler, Guillaume Robardet, Asma Hamzaoui and Abraão Andrade Lopes at PTB’s information booth at CAFMET 2025. Photo © PTB / Madeleine Martin

Four people are standing around a table with PTB information material and are talking.

The Tunisian Minister of Industry, Fatma Thabet Chiboub (left), is talking to the team at PTB’s booth. Photo © PTB / Madeleine Martin

Cross-donor synergies: Workshop on quality infrastructure in Tunis

A few days later, on 29 April 2025, the “Quality infrastructure workshop in Tunisia” took place in Tunis, a joint event of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and PTB. The event built upon the existing regular exchange between the involved organizations and served to make synergies between the projects more visible and to open new perspectives in consultation with the partner institutions.

A room with participants looking in the direction of the stage. On the stage, four persons are seated, and one person is speaking at the speaker’s desk.

Project coordinator Anna Schätzlein greets the participants. Photo © Mourad Turki

The workshop was a useful platform, where all the participants could become more familiar with the organizations and projects, overcome sectoral boundaries and jointly work toward solutions. This was especially the case in the afternoon at the round-table discussions on the topics of “Challenges and chances in the Tunisian quality infrastructure”, “Requirements of the EU Green Deal” and “Accreditation of laboratories”.

These conversations allowed the participants to look beyond their own projects and to learn from each other. The results are valuable inspiration for future activity and project planning to enhance the Tunisian quality infrastructure in a targeted manner.

A group of 11 people is sitting at a round table and is debating. One person is moderating the discussion in front of a pinboard with notes.

Thanks to the partner institutions and outlook

We would especially like to thank the organizers of the CAFMET conference for successful cooperation, and the Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat (UTICA – Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts) for providing the rooms for the quality infrastructure workshop.

The positive feedback and the lively discussions among all participants of the CAFMET conference and the quality infrastructure workshop are inspiring and provide momentum for future joint commitment in Africa, especially Tunisia.