Top executives from 14 national standards bodies from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia attended a recent open house organized by ASTM International. The event included a frank and stimulating discussion about international standardization, especially as it relates to developing nations. Topics included meeting World Trade Organization regulations and technical barriers to trade, how market forces affect standards and their effects on consumers, standards on college and university campuses, the definition of an international standard and intellectual property rights.

Representatives from the Palestine Standards Institution and the Iraq Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) signed memorandums of understanding with ASTM International. In his remarks, Ghadanfar Al Rafeek, COSQC director general, said he hoped the development of Iraqi national standards would aid its economy and the health and safety of Iraqis.

“ASTM is assisting the Iraqi people in building a stable and prosperous country that will help Iraq become a partner in the global economy,” says Ben Wu, the U.S. assistant secretary of commerce, who attended the MOU signing.

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