The 31st General Assembly of the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO), taking place under the auspices of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, opened yesterday at Dubai Grand Hyatt Hotel.

The five-day ISO Dubai 2008 is attended by more than 500 delegates from 157 ISO member countries and is being held in Dubai and the Middle East for the first time since ISO’s inception in 1947. The assembly is hosted by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). The 42nd International Committee on Developing Countries’ Affairs (Devco) inaugurated the event yesterday. Members reviewed progress to date with implementing Devco’s 2005-10 strategy and plans for the remainder of the period. Discussion groups examined standards for energy efficiency, focusing on water, climate change, and their management; national standardisation policies and stakeholder participation; and international standards as a tool to enhance market access and exports.

Participating delegations from the GCC states met the secretary general of ISO, Alan Bryden, and discussed issues of common interest pertinent to standardisation and activating GCC states' participation in international technical committees and issues relating to their development policies and plans. Today’s activities will comprise follow-up meetings preparatory to submitting the final Devco report to the General Assembly during the week, as well as a workshop focusing on US-Arab standards and conformance.

Present at ISO Dubai 2008 are representatives from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organisation (AIDMO). The event is sponsored by leading companies and government authorities in the UAE: Etisalat, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Hydra Properties, General Holding Company (GHC), Dubai Property Group, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and Dubai Conferences Office.

Open Session attendees on Wednesday (Oct 15) will discuss future sustainable buildings, smart and earthquake-resistant buildings, safety of high rise buildings, best practices reducing harmful impact on the environment resulting from construction, activating developing countries’ role at ISO, and global training programmes for developing countries’ initiatives in 2009.