EDC and Esma highlight National Standardisation as a main tool to boost UAE exports

The one day seminar, which was attended by more than 90 companies, had two sessions tackling issues about the Standards and Market Access and the UAE Quality Infrastructure. The first session discussed about the national standards development and implementation process in the country, making it on par with international standards. Such standardisation is important to local manufacturers, allowing them to meet the global requirements both inside as well as outside the country.

Also examined during the session was the National Committee for Standardisation procedures in the UAE and how this will serve as a technical link for the local companies and the regional and international organisations in Standardisation and Metrology. It also talked about the importance and the benefits of the UAE Conformity assessment scheme, which serves as a 'mark of quality' in the country and how local companies are able to receive such certificates.

"Esma as a Federal UAE Authority and the only federal government organisation responsible for quality and product standards in the country is an important partner of EDC to ensure that we are delivering the right support in increasing the UAE exports. Esma's main goal is to support the national economy with the scientific progress of standards and quality management control by educating people about standardisation and metrology activities," said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, EDC.

"This joint seminar with Esma is one of the new avenues to inform local investors and exporters on how to make their products and services more competitive globally. This seminar is aimed at updating manufacturers on the latest work programmes implemented and provide them with the latest information on products' standards and specifications in potential markets," he added.

Meanwhile, the second session "UAE Quality Infrastructure" included the National Accreditation System Enas - the national accreditation process in the country for Conformity Assessment Bodies, its requirements and how this programme will benefit local manufacturers when expanding overseas. The other topic was the World Trade agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). This topic tackled about the challenges posed by varying technical regulations and product standards across countries and how WTO's Agreement on TBT tries to ensure that regulations, standards, testing and certification procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles.

Additionally, this WTO Agreement on TBT will help simplify export procedures and will reduce problems encountered by exporters. During the seminar, the UAE Information Centre was also introduced, a point of contact which will eventually help the exporters in their business.

"The role of the Dubai Export Development Corporation is undertaking to develop the country's export is very important for the national economy. The corporation gives support and stability for the UAE exporters and help them to compete internationally by opening new markets where the National Standardisation and Metrology is highly essential,"

said Walid bin Falah Al Mansouri, Director General, Esma.

Esma's fields of specialisations are preparing, approving, publishing, reviewing, modifying, issuing and adapting standards and technical regulations, and establishing a national measurement system (NMS) in the country. Esma will establish a national metrology institute (NMI) and activate the legal metrology activities in the UAE. A standard is a reference document used in particular in the context of public contracts or in that of international trade on which the majority of commercial contracts rely, while Metrology is the science of measurement, which covers all scientific disciplines that are based on measurements.