USA and Arab nations cooperate on standardisation

Concluding on October 17, the event hosts delegations from various standardization organisations worldwide and government and private invitees.

Organised in Dubai, the Middle East and North Africa for the first time since ISO's inception in 1947, ISO Dubai 2008 huge number of participants lauded the organizers for the prompt organization of the event and the facilities available to attendees.

Waleed bin Falah Al Mansouri, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (Mowasafat) general manager said:

"The successful organization of the event by the UAE is a pride to us the hosts, Mowasafat and to all our partners who had given all attention to important details; organization, arrival of delegations , logistics and other accurate details that make the UAE honoured and proud."

The first two days of ISO Dubai 2008, which started on Sunday, focused on the 42nd round meeting of the International Committee of the Developing Countries Affairs (Devco) and its final recommendations forwarded yesterday (Monday) to the 31st General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), workshops and discussion panels, and signature of joint agreements between Mowasaft and other organizations.

Yesterday (Monday),Arab delegations at ISO Dubai 2008 met to discuss the feasibility of forming an Arab alliance for users of standards and specifications.

Companies and respective Arab unions will meet to discuss the idea, mechanism and implementation.

ISO Dubai 2008 also hosted the first workshop on Arab and US Standards and Conformance, in collaboration with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI and the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC).

Attended by representatives of various industries, the government and academia from the US and the Arab world, discussions focused chiefly on petroleum and energy, construction and engineering, and the US and Arab standards and conformity assessment procedures that facilitate development in these industries

"Trade and economic development, energy management, consumer protection and safety - these are just a few examples of where American and Arab interests and priorities overlap."

said S. Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO.

"Cooperation and collaboration on standards and conformity assessment practices will bring our shared interests to the forefront and advance trade between the two regions."

Waleed Bin Falah Al Mansouri, Mowasafat director general, said: "Through increased transparency and mutual understanding, our approaches to standards, conformity assessment and technical regulations will move closer together, incorporating the best of the United States and the Arab world."

The panel featured senior leaders from America's private sector, as well as high-level officials from the Governments of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and the United States.

Petroleum and Energy, the second panel of the day, examined the industry perspective on standards used in the petroleum and energy sectors.

Panelists introduced existing needs and suggested new areas for cooperation between U.S. and Arab stakeholders.

The workshop's final panel also from the industry perspective was centered on Construction and Engineering, and how standards-based solutions can help meet existing needs and address emerging challenges in this sector.

David Hamod, President & CEO of the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, said that the meeting served as a "very important step in our efforts to forge even closer commercial ties between the Arab world and the United States. This capacity-building workshop brought together some extraordinary people, and I am hopeful that it will help to encourage best practices, break down trade barriers and, in the long run, promote a better quality of life."

ISO Dubai 2008 is held in the Middle East and Africa for the first time since ISO inception in 1947, and included the participation of 157 member countries of ISO.

Attendees included representatives from the International Committee for Electric Appliances (IEC), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), The European Authority and Committee of Standards (CEN), The UN's UNIDO, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organisation (AIDMO).

The event is sponsored by a number of leading companies and government authorities in the UAE; Etisalat, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Hydra Properties, General Holding Co., Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai Conferences Bureau.

ISO Dubai 2008 sessions tomorrow (Wednesday) will discuss vital issues; developing and measuring standards in relation to climatic changes, energy and water efficiency and best practices for the reduction of environmental damages caused by construction.

In addition, sessions will cover green buildings, sustainable buildings, smart buildings, earthquake-resistant buildings, safety and security of high-rise buildings and activating developing countries role in ISO and training programmes for developing standards and specifications programmes during 2009.