Meet focuses on boosting trade and climate action
ABU DHABI: The UAE is seeking to increase exports and drive climate action by enhancing collaboration with standardisation bodies from around the world as the country pursues its goal of becoming a global industrial hub.
The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT) this week is hosting the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Annual Meeting 2022, which launched on Monday at the ADNOC Business Centre in Abu Dhabi, under the theme of ‘Collaborating for Good’.
The event runs from Sept.19-23 and will witness the participation of more than 5,000 delegates, including officials and representatives of national standardization bodies, as well as experts and technicians from more than 120 countries.
The ISO Annual Meeting was opened by Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, who opened the event. Ulrika Francke, President of the ISO, and Sergio Mujica, Secretary-general of ISO, also delivered opening addresses.
Inhisopeningspeech,omaralsuwaidi,underlined how supporting the global standardization agenda and aligning with international standards promotes commercialgrowthandstimulatesinternationaltrade.
“This week’s meeting is vital not just to the global industrial ecosystem, but more broadly to trade, and economies. Standardization supports the global economy and increases confidence in international trade. But standards also support Sustainable Development Goals and ISO and its members are commited to driving climate action. Together, we aim to push economic and trade relations to new heights, which will position the UAE as an international hub for industry, trade, and business.”
He continued: “The ministry is mandated to empower the industrial sector and raise its contribution to national GDP. Part of this role includes boosting exportsbyleveragingtheuae’sstrategicgeographical location, world-class infrastructure, and logistics capabilities. Last year, industrial exports amounted to around $31.6 billion, accounting for a significant portion of the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP. Our robust exports reflect the UAE’S increasingly effective quality infrastructure system, including our work to align with international standards and boost conformity.”
He added: “This annual meeting will no doubt helptosetthefuturedirectionofqualityinfrastructure systems – not just here in the UAE but around the world. By collaborating and innovating together, by being bold and creative in our thinking, we can leverage our combined capacities to enhance business growth, industrial development, and global trade.