Oman has made a significant leap, rising 57 spots to 60th place out of 155 countries in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) Global Quality Index.
Muscat: The achievement, announced in November, also places Oman 6th in the Middle East, a significant improvement from its previous position of 117th.
The milestone reflects the success of Oman’s strategic initiatives to enhance its national standards and metrology systems, spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP).
Dr. Saleh bin Saeed Masan, Undersecretary of MoCIIP, attributed this success to the Ministry’s focus on developing the specifications and standards sector, which he described as pivotal to enabling trade, industry, and investment. Key initiatives include the launch of the “Hazm” electronic platform, offering streamlined conformity services, the establishment of the Omani Accreditation Center, and the Omani Conformity System. These efforts have simplified processes, reduced trade barriers, and improved the competitiveness of Omani products globally.
Dr. Masan, adding that the Ministry is leveraging digital tools like artificial intelligence to enhance standardization processes, reduce errors, and save resources.
Imad bin Khamis Al-Shikaili, Director General of Standards and Metrology, highlighted that these advancements align with Oman Vision 2040 and the Tenth Five-Year Plan. He noted the significant role of digitizing standardization services and upgrading laboratories in elevating Oman’s ranking.
Oman has also bolstered its international presence, actively participating in 31 technical committees under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and heading three committees under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standardization Organization.
The Directorate General of Standards and Metrology continues to work on furthering Oman’s participation in international standardization efforts and plans to develop an Omani e-store for accessing standard specifications. These measures aim to enhance trade policies, unify specifications with global partners, and strengthen the competitiveness of Omani industries.
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