Oman Celebrates World Accreditation Day: Unlocking New Opportunities for Businesses Through Enhanced Standards
Muscat, Oman — The Sultanate of Oman, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), is participating in global observance of World Accreditation Day on June 9. This year’s theme, “Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises,” emphasizes the crucial role of accreditation in supporting quality, building trust, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable development.
Accreditation serves as a foundational element of the quality infrastructure system, ensuring the competence of conformity assessment bodies. This includes testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification organizations for management systems, products, and halal certification, all adhering to internationally recognized standards. Such measures enhance the reliability of services and results, while bolstering confidence among consumers, investors, and commercial partners.
Dr. Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre (OAC), stated, “World Accreditation Day highlights the strategic importance of accreditation in fostering economic growth and enhancing sector competitiveness. It has evolved from a technical tool to an essential component in building trust, promoting innovation, and ensuring product and service quality in line with national and international best practices.”
Dr. Al Busaidi further noted that the Oman Accreditation Centre is actively advancing the national accreditation system in line with Oman Vision 2040. To date, the Centre has accredited six testing laboratories within Oman according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. Efforts are ongoing to assess and accredit additional entities, thereby strengthening the efficiency of the testing and inspection sector and enhancing the credibility of national laboratories both locally and internationally.
Eng. Hamood Al Harthy, Head of Registration at the OAC, emphasized the Centre’s focus on expanding its regional and international presence. He revealed that OAC has submitted an application to the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) to obtain international recognition and is currently completing the necessary requirements for the peer evaluation phase, a critical step in the international recognition process. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure membership in the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which would further enhance the global recognition of Oman’s national accreditation system and bolster the competitiveness of its economy.
He underscored that accreditation is vital for facilitating international trade and reducing technical barriers, as it promotes the acceptance of test results, reports, and certificates issued by accredited organizations. This, in turn, improves the access of Omani products and services to regional and global markets.
This year’s observance highlights the essential role of accreditation in adapting to rapid global advancements in innovation, emerging technologies, and sustainability, as well as in reinforcing trust and transparency across various economic sectors.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion remains committed to the continuous development of accreditation services and the promotion of a culture of quality and institutional excellence. This endeavor supports sustainable development goals and enhances Oman’s status as a burgeoning regional hub for quality, accreditation, and quality infrastructure.
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Oman’s emphasis on accreditation for SMEs presents pivotal opportunities for businesses seeking to enhance their credibility and market access. By aligning with international standards, companies can not only improve their competitive edge but also open doors to global markets, mitigating risks associated with technical barriers to trade. Smart investors should consider the growing demand for accredited services as a catalyst for innovation and growth in the Omani economy, particularly in line with Oman Vision 2040.
