The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development (MTIBD) has announced the restart and launch of the 2026 National Quality Awards. This initiative shows the government’s plan to promote quality standards, make local businesses more competitive and raise Lesotho’s global reputation.
The National Quality Awards commenced in 2013 to encourage excellence, innovation and continuous improvement in Lesotho’s business sector.
The awards took a break in 2017 and are now being brought back to match the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 2025 call for stronger regional quality systems.
The reinstatement means Lesotho wants its companies to meet international best practices to promote excellence and better quality management to recognise businesses that perform at world‑class levels and encourage companies to use global quality standards for products and services.
In preparation for the 2026 awards, the Ministry held technical workshops and awareness campaigns from March to November 2025 across the country. These events helped businesses understand quality standards and get ready to enter the competition aiming to strengthen Lesotho’s quality infrastructure and help local enterprises grow in the regional market.
The 2026 Awards ceremony is therefore set for January 28, 2026 and will honour five categories: Product of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Service of the Year, Individual Contributor of the Year and Company of the Year – highlighting excellence and lifting standards across Lesotho’s businesses. The Ministry urged Qualifying firms to apply for national recognition and a stronger, more competitive economy.
