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There is an increased understanding of the importance of metrology to the economy and to society as a whole. Accurate measurement forms the backbone of technical regulations, written standards and legal metrology, thus the pre-requisite for free and fair trade between nations and citizens inside the country.

In every institute, company or other commercial organisation, concepts such as safety, security, efficiency, reliability and precision are of paramount importance in designing systems which provide guarantees of product quality. Accurate and widely accepted measurements ensure that market transactions can take place and that consumers can feel confident that the goods they buy are of the quantity and quality they require. Importantly for Africa, accurate and internationally accepted measurements allow market access for food and commodity exports.

Technological innovation depends on accurate measurements. New ideas and products often can only be implemented if accurate measurement systems are in place. At a social level, protection of the environment requires that pollutants are accurately monitored. Patients receiving medical treatment need confidence in their test results, treatment dosage and the measured ingredients of the drugs they take.

Industrial and commercial standards such as those regulated by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) create a demand for measurement. Case studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between the adoption of international standards and the extent of trade in measurement and testing equipment, proving that a good metrology system ultimately contributes to a country's GDP.

Unfortunately, the measurement system in Africa at present does not fulfil the requirements. Many countries lack basic metrology infrastructure, especially Scientific and Industrial metrology institutes. In countries with Legal metrology and/or Scientific and Industrial metrology representative bodies, there is often a lack of equipment and skills. In many instances the system operates in silos, is fragmented and is not always recognised internationally.

As a response, the sub-regions and nations of Africa came together to establish an intra-Africa Metrology System, AFRIMETS, with the main goal of harmonising accurate measurement in Africa, establishing new measurement facilities and gaining international acceptance for all measurements critical to export, environmental monitoring and sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues.

To harmonise metrology activities in Africa, an intra-Africa metrology system (AFRIMETS) was established, based on the regional metrology organisation of the Americas, SIM (Sistema Interamericano de Metrologia). The initiative is supported by the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) and Legal Metrology at the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) of South Africa.

The first AFRIMETS workshop, held in March 2006, was attended by delegates from more than 25 African countries and representatives from APMP, SIM, EURAMET, the BIPM and other interested parties such as ECOWAS, COMESA, the African Committee of Metrology (CAFMET), the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), the Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the National Laboratory Association of South Africa (NLA).

A draft MOU was prepared and a second workshop was held in September 2006. The first General Assembly meeting was held in July 2007 at the premises of NEPAD in South Africa. The MOU was finalised and signed by five sub-regional metrology organisations (SRMOs): SADCMET/MEL, EAMET, CAMET (later changed to CEMACMET), SOAMET and MAGMET, representing 37 countries in Southern, Eastern, Central, Western and North Western Africa. Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt and Ethiopia also signed on as individual Ordinary members.