GSO Strengthens its Relations With International Standardization Organizations
The GCC Standardization Organization for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSO) has participated in the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-20), and the Global Standards Symposium aiming at achieving the digital transformation and accomplishing the sustainable development goals. These two events were recently held in Geneva, Switzerland.
On the sidelines of these events, His Excellency Mr. Saud bin Nasser Al-Khusaibi, President of GSO, visited His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao in his office. During the meeting, GSO President outlined the tasks, objectives and achievements of GSO at the regional and international levels, and the most prominent determinants of its strategic direction and objectives for the period 2025. On his part, Mr. Houlin praised GSO distinguished achievements in the field of standardization, confirming support of ITU to GSO through its membership in the ITU, since September 18, 2019, Cape Town, South Africa, contributing to promoting telecommunication standardization.
GSO also held a bilateral meeting with His Excellency the Director General of Telecommunication Standardization (TSB), Dr. Chesab Lee, in which His Excellency welcomed the participation of GSO in the meetings of the WTSA, highlighting the big role of GSO as an effective regional organization in supporting telecommunication standardization.
He welcomed participation of specialists of GSO and member states in the relevant specialized study working groups, and technical capacity building programs with the aim of qualifying and training its technical staff, through an annual work plan between the two sides. This participation comes within the framework of the full membership of GSO in ITU (Standardization Sector) with effect of December 22, 2020, which provides GSO and member states with many privileges, including access to the full range of ITU-T meetings and the telecommunication standardization Sector activities, and influencing the development of international standards, Advisory Groups, and working groups related to intellectual property, and to participate in the process of developing international standards related to telecommunications, making comments on draft standards and technical working documents, participating in the process of harmonization, and making the final decision regarding those standards, as well as chairing the relevant working groups. Membership also provides GSO with access to information, minutes of meetings, reports, resource databases and international numbering codes.
President of GSO also held a meeting with His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization ISO at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva.
GSO President presented and highlighted the tasks and achievements of GSO standardization march over the 18 years, and its strategic vision 2025. Discussions also tackled ways to enhance cooperation with ISO in line with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides and the regional standardization policy, particularly the harmonization of international standards, exchange of experiences and experts, translation of international standards into Arabic, qualification programs for specialists in GSO and member states, and the promotion and encouragement of participation in the work of international standardization.
On the other hand, His Excellency the President of GSO visited the headquarters of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), during which he met with His Excellency the Secretary-General.
During the meeting, views were exchanged on the most important achievements of the distinguished partnership between the two sides in the field of adopting IEC standards, and exchanging experiences and experts, in line with the cooperation agreement signed between the two sides in 2016, and the agreement to adopt standards signed in Shanghai in 2019.
The two sides also discussed the final stage of signing an agreement to translate IEC standards into Arabic, which contributes to the implementation of these standards, and the availability of these standards in international platforms, in addition to providing support and technical advice for the implementation of GSO 2022 projects.
This comes within the GSO’s efforts to continue strengthening cooperation relations with regional and international organizations, and as a part of its strategic vision 2025 to reach leadership as a regional standardization organization, enhance its position within the global map of standardization organizations and bodies, enhance the organization’s image, and build effective and sustainable strategic partnerships to support the Gulf standardization system.
As well as qualifying competencies, transferring experiences and best practices, protecting the interests of member states and enhancing their presence and active participation in regional and international gatherings and events, through the development and implementation of a communication strategy and strategic partnerships and technical cooperation programs with counterpart organizations, on top of which comes the International Standardization Alliance, which includes the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
