ISO 31st General Assembly Annual Meeting 2008 in UAE

The event, that is expecting the attendance of more than 700 officials and experts, has been approved to be held in Dubai by ISO Council, after the invitation from Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) to host the event in the recent ISO Meetings in Canada.

During the Press Conference of ESMA last Thursday, November 16, 2006, which was attended by H.E. Alan Bryden, ISO Secretary General, H.E. Walid Bin Falah Al-Mansouri, ESMA Director General, and a number of UAE officials, H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, ESMA Vice-Chairman, stated that the success of the UAE in holding the ISO Annual Meetings has been the result of the country's good reputation, its distinguished relation with the international communities, and its great capabilities and infrastructure.

It was commended the great support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance & Industry and Chairman of ESMA. Where H.E. further praised the great efforts of ESMA in communicating with ISO members, and in preparing and providing all the necessary requirements for hosting such event.

H.E. Dr. Rashid declared that holding such an Important International Event will contribute in revealing the civilized aspect of the UAE, its contributions on the international level, and its commitment in playing an effective international role to serve the UAE's strategic interests along with supporting the efforts and interests of the Arab and Islamic states within the framework of implementing the policies and instructions of the country's supreme command headed by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the members of the Union Supreme Council.

In addition, he clarified that holding such an event will enhance the regional leading position of the UAE as a distinguished regional and international center for trade; highlight the government efforts to adopt and encourage international standards and practices; and prevail the government efforts to spread awareness of the importance of international standardization and its role in economic development, international trade and the spread of quality culture. Hosting ISO Meetings will further enhance the spread and the support for standardization culture in the UAE and the region as an indispensable tool for administrative and industrial development, along with the chance for meeting with the international delegations and experts to exchange ideas and expertise, by the UAE participant delegates from different industrial and economic sectors. Hence, this holding will contribute in prevailing the UAE commercial and industrial capabilities and activities that abide by the quality standards.

He extended his thanks and gratitude for the great and continuous support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and to the distinguished and big efforts of ESMA in supporting the UAE's for hosting the ISO Meetings; where he praised the support of the ISO members from the GCC States and the Arab and friendly countries in choosing UAE for hosting the meetings of 2008.

H.E. Alan Bryden, ISO Secretary General, extended his thanks and gratitude to the UAE for hosting the ISO annual meetings, where he stated that holding such a world event reflects the UAE commitment and support for international organizations, and the confidence of ISO and all its members in the advanced capabilities and infrastructure of the UAE in all fields; where it has been eligibly proven through hosting and organizing a vast variety of important international conferences and exhibitions.

ISO is considered one of the main international organizations that play a great role in facilitating trade exchange among countries through issuing international standards that form a common language for all parties of the trade operation. ISO was established in 1946, headquartered in Geneva, and is involved in developing international standards for products; services; operations; materials; and administrative systems in the fields of quality management, environmental management, vocational safety and health, nutrition safety, and the accreditation of the individuals working in these fields. ISO also develops standards to verify conformity assessment, administration and administrative practices, where it is considered one of the three international referential organizations recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as sources for international standards.

The ISO membership consists of representatives from national standardization bodies from all over the world, where the number of its members has reached around 157 countries with membership status that varies among full and correspondent members; in addition to the membership of numerous regional and international organizations and authorities relevant to standardization activities, industrial unions, the International Union for Consumers, and non-governmental societies.

ESMA represents the UAE in ISO membership as a Full Member since 2000. and ISO holds its regular meeting annually for its assembly committees and the ISO Governing Council.

These meetings encompass specialized workshops, open to the public and the participants, where they discuss successful experiences at the hosting country, and subjects of an international dimension relevant to standardization activities. The meetings were held in Singapore in 2005, in Ottawa - Canada - in 2006, and to be held in Geneva - ISO Headquarters - in 2007.