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2005 ANSI Conference on U.S. Leadership in ISO and IEC Presented by Dr. Carmiña Londoño Group Leader, Global Standards a

ISO & Developing Countries. 2005 ANSI Conference on U.S. Leadership in ISO and IEC Presented by Dr. Carmiña Londoño Group Leader, Global Standards and Information Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology . ISO & Developing Countries - Outline. DEVCO in the ISO context

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2005 ANSI Conference on U.S. Leadership in ISO and IEC Presented by Dr. Carmiña Londoño Group Leader, Global Standards a

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  1. ISO & Developing Countries 2005 ANSI Conference on U.S. Leadership in ISO and IEC Presented by Dr. Carmiña Londoño Group Leader, Global Standards and Information Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology

  2. ISO & Developing Countries - Outline • DEVCO in the ISO context • The Standards Challenge for Developing Countries • ISO Demographics • ISO’s Plans • Conclusions

  3. DEVCO in the ISO context • DEVCO is the ISO Developing Countries Committee • DEVCO is a policy committees of the ISO similar in nature to CASCO, REMCO, COPOLCO • ISO has 156 national members, ISO has 178 active TCs, ISO has 150 staff in Geneva • Developing countries represent approximately 75% of the ISO membership.

  4. Common challenges? • Both Developed and Developing Countries want to expand markets for their products and services • Standards play a key role in opening new markets and sustaining new opportunities • Developed and Developing Countries face many (often common) trade related standards and conformity assessment challenges • Both Developed and Developing Countries view China as a great opportunity and also a challenge

  5. According to the 2001 World Bank report titled “Global Economics Prospects, “Reshaping Global Trade Architecture for Development” • “Not only do standards assist in the creation of a domestic market and increase competitiveness, but they also provide tools to manufacturers and exporters in developing countries for strategic planning, improving the quality of products and services and improving access to export markets.” • “International standards are key to improving developing countries' access to international markets and to strengthening their ability to implement international trade obligations.” Don’t these statements apply to Developed Countries also?

  6. Why seek the input of developing countries Standards developed through any international body and in this case we are referring ISO process may end up being of questionable value and market relevance to developing countries if their input and market realities are not included in the standards Without proper input ISO can end developing MARKET IRRELEVANT standards!

  7. What is the Reality at ISO as an International Body? • 52% of the ISO NSBs from developing countries have not had any delegates or experts attend any ISO TC, SC or WG meeting over a two-year period. • 48% of the ISO NSBs from developing countries do not follow any technical work by correspondence. • The number of ISO secretariats held by developing countries is low • 86% of ISO National Standards Bodies (NSBs) from developing countries are governmental agencies • In 61% of these developing countries, 50% or more of their mandatory technical regulations are not based on international standards • 25% of the ISO NSBs in developing countries publish 150 standards or less

  8. How is ISO responding? In September 2002 a Global Workshop was held in Stockholm to discuss the participation of Developing Countries in standardization The ISO Council Task Force on Developing Countries recommended a Program of Action based on: • The ISO DEVCO/TMB Survey • The WTO TBT Survey of Needs • The IAF Survey of Needs to establish clear priorities • The list of recommendations from the September Stockholm workshop

  9. Action Plan for Developing Countries for 2005-2010 has five key objectives: • Improve awareness of key stakeholders in developing countries of the role of standardization in economic growth, world trade and sustainable development. • Build capacity of ISO members and stakeholders involved in developing the standardization infrastructure and participating in international standardization work. • Increase national and regional cooperation to share experience, resources, training, information and communications technologies. • Develop electronic communication and expertise in IT tools to participate in international standardization work, reach out to stakeholders and make efficient use of ISO e-services. • Increase participation in governance and technical work of ISO to voice priorities, contribute and influence the technical content of ISO deliverables.

  10. Funding for Developing Countries through ISO • ISO is not itself a funding agency. • The ISO Action Plan for developing countries is dependent on technical and financial assistance received from members, international development and aid agencies, governments and donor organizations. • Donations by ISO members constitute the Funds-in-trust for developing countries. Contributions from sources external to ISO are used to finance specific projects jointly agreed between ISO, the donor and the final beneficiaries. • The technical assistance projects are designed in such a way that donor agencies are able to implement their own priorities with respect to the kind of assistance offered and in relation to regions or groups of countries of particular interest to them.

  11. Update on Specific ISO Activities for Developing Countries • ISO DEVCO Chair’s Advisory Group. • ISO DEVCO Meeting Breakout Sessions. • Discontinuing and Updating ISO Manuals. • ISO ICT Assistance. • ISO Training Programs. • ISO Travel Assistance to Developing Country Representatives. • ISO DEVCO “Test Drive” Program.

  12. Conclusions (or questions?) Has ISO responded effectively to the development of standards that are market relevant to both the Developed and Developing Countries? How is ISO measuring the impact of the DEVCO programs that are being implemented as part of its Strategic Plan? Are Developed Countries better off funding developing countries directly and not through DEVCO programs? Is it important to make friends from the developing countries to get support for U.S. positions at international fora?

  13. Conclusions (or questions?) Everything said this morning about building relationships and trust with China to get their valuable technical input into the standards development process also applies to rest of the developing countries. Mark said that the rules were developed without the technical input of many players around the world – should the rules be revisited? Isn’t involving developing countries in the internationals standardization process simply enlightened self-interest for developed countries? Having a world where there are countries that have all the advantages (real or not) and countries that cannot effectively participate in the standardization process does not lead in the long run to sustainable markets for exports.

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