This newsletter by Monideep Dey is published every quarter to inform subscribers of developments in the field of public policy, regulation and standardization in developing economies. The principal of Deytec, Inc. USA, Monideep Dey, PhD, is an expert on public policy, regulation and standardization matters (including conformity assessment) for developing countries pursuing economic development through increased trade and competitiveness.
Deytec, Inc. is a company member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and an active participant in ISO CASCO and DEVCO. ISO CASCO writes standards and guides for the effective operation of conformity assessment bodies and activities which are important for international trade.
52nd Meeting of the ISO Committee on Developing Country Matters, September 2018, Geneva, SWITZERLAND
ISO General Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, September 2018
Monideep Dey attended the 52nd DEVCO meeting and the 41st ISO General Assembly hosted by ISO in Geneva, SWITZERLAND in September, 2018. DEVCO has conducted a survey of developing countries to obtain information on how developing countries can be more engaged in ISO standards development. A key result of the survey and point discussed in both the DEVCO meeting and ISO General Assembly is that developing countries need to see the benefits of engagement. DEVCO has developed a focused work plan to address the needs of developing country members of ISO.
There is a need to demonstrate how ISO standards can be used and implemented, along with conformity assessment methods, to benefit developing countries. Government officials and especially SMEs are hesitant to commit to standardization activities unless they see the benefits. For example, how are standards related to trade? The need for marketing and promotional material was identified. The work of DEVCO and ISO is important but there is a need for international development organizations to work together to collectively address these issues.
Publications on the Quality Infrastructure
Developing a Quality Infrastructure
The World Bank Group has recently published a toolkit for Quality Infrastructure reform. "In a modern world with rapidly growing international trade, countries compete less based on the availability of natural resources, geographical advantages and lower cost of labor, and more on the factors related to the ability of firms to access and compete in new markets. One of these factors is the ability to demonstrate quality and safety of goods and services and to comply with international standards in target markets."
This QI Reform toolkit can be valuable to assess and improve the infrastructure of quality in developing countries pursuing economic development through increased trade and competitiveness. The QI is essential to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Challenges to Global Trade
Improving the Global Trading System
It is recognized that international technical standards and conformity assessment methods have been written by experts from developed countries in the past. Presently, several developing economies have shown a desire to increase their export capacity, and have established specific export councils in their governments. However, these countries face significant challenges due in part to the nature of the technical requirements in international standards and conformity assessment methods.
A project to collectively assess the needs and implement improvements to international technical and conformity assessment standards is needed to increase the export capacity of developing economies.
