The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development (MTIBD) is pleased to announce the official reinstatement and launch of the 2026 National Quality Awards. This milestone initiative reflects Government’s strategic commitment to strengthening quality infrastructure, enhancing competitiveness, and improving the global standing of Basotho enterprises.
The National Quality Awards were first introduced in 2013 as a flagship programme to promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement within Lesotho’s business community. Following a hiatus since 2017, the awards are being revived in alignment with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 2025 call for Member States to reinforce regional quality infrastructure and standards. Their reinstatement underscores Lesotho’s renewed resolve to align local enterprises with international best practices.
The primary objectives of the National Quality Awards are to promote excellence and continuous improvement in quality management systems, recognise enterprises that demonstrate world-class performance, and encourage the adoption of internationally recognised quality standards across both product and service sectors.
In preparation for the 2026 awards, the Ministry conducted nationwide technical workshops and sensitisation campaigns between March and November 2025 across all ten districts. These engagements were aimed at building enterprise capacity, raising awareness on quality standards, and adequately preparing potential participants for effective and competitive participation in the awards process.
The 2026 National Quality Awards Ceremony will be held on 28 January 2026 as a high-level national event and will be officiated by the Right Honourable the Prime Minister. Awards will be presented in five categories, namely:
- Product of the Year
- Exporter of the Year
- Service of the Year
- Individual Contributor of the Year
- Company of the Year
Applications are now open to all eligible enterprises – small, medium, and large – operating within both product and service sectors. Application forms are available at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development, 3rd Floor, Department of Quality, Metrology and Technical Regulations. To encourage broad participation, the submission deadline has been extended to 12 January 2026. All entries will be assessed by an independent panel of judges to ensure credibility, fairness, and transparency.
The reinstatement of the National Quality Awards has already attracted strong interest from development partners, with one key partner indicating its intention to sponsor the awards ceremony. This expression of support is a clear vote of confidence in the relevance, integrity, and national importance of the initiative.
The National Quality Awards are an investment in Lesotho’s economic future. They are designed to strengthen consumer confidence in locally produced goods and services, stimulate innovation and sustainable growth, and position Basotho enterprises competitively within regional and global markets.
The Ministry therefore calls upon all eligible enterprises to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to elevate standards, gain national recognition, and contribute meaningfully to a competitive, inclusive, and prosperous Lesotho.