Sunday 09 / November / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), represented by the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology (DGSM), hosted on Sunday, 9 November 2025, at W Muscat Hotel, a symposium titled ‘Standards and Accreditation for Sustainable Industry.’
The event was held under the patronage of Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, with the attendance of several of Their Excellencies, senior officials and the participation of representatives from government and private entities, SMEs, experts, and stakeholders in the fields of quality, accreditation, and standards.
The symposium comes within the MoCIIP’s efforts to support Oman’s quality infrastructure and to enhance the role of standards and accreditation in empowering the national industrial sector and strengthening industrial competitiveness in line with regional and international market requirements. It also aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which aspires to build a knowledge-based economy driven by excellence and innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, Imad bin Khamis Al Shukaili, Director General of the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology at MoCIIP, highlighted the importance of standardisation and accreditation as key enablers of industrial development and essential tools for ensuring product quality in both local and international markets. He noted the MoCIIP’s ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive national quality system.
Al Shukaili explained that the Ministry has focused on enhancing national capabilities, training over 250 participants during 2024 and 2025 to serve as assessors in the registration and accreditation of conformity assessment bodies. He added that 31 inspection and evaluation visits were conducted for testing and calibration laboratories with the participation of 105 assessors, alongside 15 technical training programmes involving public and private entities and SMEs.
On SME empowerment, Al Shukaili pointed to MoCIIP’s plans to establish partnerships with small and medium enterprises to operate precious-metals laboratories and manage jewellery hallmarking activities, in collaboration with the Authority for SME Development, thereby strengthening entrepreneurs’ participation in manufacturing, importation, conformity assessment, and certification activities.
He also revealed that the DGSM had issued 203 Omani standards this year and participated in reviewing 983 Gulf standards under the 2025 plan, engaging 72 members from public and private institutions. In addition, it has published a Standardisation Procedures Manual for the Standards Department.
Al Shukaili emphasised that the symposium serves as a platform to strengthen partnerships between public and private stakeholders and to reinforce the national drive towards embedding quality and sustainability practices.
Meanwhile, Eng. Moslem Barrak, ARAC Secretary, said that the Sultanate of Oman is among the leading countries in developing quality infrastructure. The establishment of the Oman Accreditation Centre (OMAC) represents a major strategic step towards building an integrated national accreditation system that complies with international requirements and supports the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
He added that the Centre’s accession to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) is a remarkable achievement, placing OMAC among internationally recognised Arab accreditation bodies. This recognition enhances the Centre’s position as an active regional partner and reflects the complementary relationship between standards and accreditation, which underpins a knowledge-based economy, empowers national industries to grow and innovate, and fosters an investment environment based on trust and fair competition.
Barrak stressed that adopting national and international technical standards and relying on recognised conformity assessment bodies are key pillars for supporting industrial policies and boosting product competitiveness in regional and global markets.
He also noted that the gathering reflects the spirit of partnership and integration among national quality institutions, helping to align visions and unify efforts between the public and private sectors to advance sustainable development across the Arab region.
The MoCIIP, through its Directorate General for Standards and Metrology (DGSM), continued its efforts during 2024 and the first half of 2025 to enhance Oman’s quality system and foster a competitive, standards-driven economy.
The DGSM achieved a 6% increase in the number of newly registered conformity assessment bodies by October 2025, compared with the same period in 2024. This progress contributes to consumer protection, support for national products, and industrial access to international markets.
The DGSM accomplished a series of milestones in organisational development, laboratory capacity-building, market surveillance, and international cooperation.
In 2024, it implemented seven specialised programmes in partnership with the Gulf Accreditation Centre to establish the Oman Accreditation Centre, a strategic project aimed at enabling Omani conformity assessment bodies to gain international recognition and facilitate the export of Oman’s products to global markets.
Moreover, the DGSM registered over 109 testing and calibration laboratories, conducted 31 technical field inspections, licensed 126 conformity assessment entities, and supplied regional offices with advanced measurement and calibration equipment to ensure efficient market surveillance across the governorates.
It also responded to over 3,520 inquiries from partners in both sectors, ensuring clarity in procedures and a smooth service experience.
In the field of standardisation, the DGSM created over 200 new Omani standards and reviewed over 900 Gulf standards, while enhancing national participation in technical standardisation committees. The number of Omani experts engaged in Gulf and international technical committees reached 165 members, and the first national technical committee for developing standards was established, comprising six specialised teams covering key economic sectors.
In the area of conformity and inspection, the DGSM issued over 13,500 electronic certificates of conformity via Oman Business Platform, processed more than 22,000 customs release permits, and implemented a national inspection plan covering commercial scales, electrical appliances, children’s toys, cosmetics, and other industrial products.
The DGSM also handled notifications received through the GCC “Aajel” Rapid Alert System, taking necessary actions to safeguard consumers.
In pursuit of innovation and sustainability, the DGSM launched the Green Label for water-saving products, introduced the Omani Quality Mark Regulation and the Laboratory Accreditation Regulation, and inaugurated the first mobile fuel-pump verification laboratory in the Sultanate.
It also developed new digital systems for standardisation services and activated the enhanced version of the Omani Standards e-Store.
Through these accelerated steps, the DGSM continues to implement its forward-looking plans to reinforce the national quality infrastructure, improve industrial efficiency, and empower SMEs to participate in testing and standardisation activities. These efforts strengthen Oman’s position within the global quality framework and support a sustainable, knowledge-based economy founded on innovation and trust.
The symposium featured several visual and technical presentations, including a presentation by Dr. Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Director of the Accreditation Office at DGSM, on the role of the Oman Accreditation Centre in the national quality system, accreditation mechanisms, national capacity-building, and field inspection achievements.
Dr. Jihad bint Jabr Al Busaidi, Director of the Standards Department, delivered a presentation on the standardisation system, its related legislation, achievements in 2025, digital-service development, and the “Ambassadors of Standardisation” initiative.
Maryam Al Mandhari, Microbiology Laboratory Technician at Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives, gave a presentation on the role of laboratory accreditation in enhancing the quality of food products and strengthening consumer and market confidence.
Eng. Moslem Barrak presented another paper on accreditation’s role in supporting public policies, promoting trust, protecting consumers, and attracting investments.
Dr. Zahran Al Kamayni, Head of Engineering Standards Department at Nama Water Services, showcased a project on the development and unification of engineering standards in the water sector, aimed at achieving sustainability and improving infrastructure efficiency.
The symposium concluded by emphasising the importance of promoting a culture of quality and accreditation across all production and service sectors, reinforcing coordination among national quality institutions, supporting the competitiveness of Omani industries, and fostering a business environment conducive to industrial innovation and entrepreneurship, all of which contribute to building a sustainable industrial sector that reflects Oman’s distinguished position on the global quality landscape.
