Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has made significant progress, climbing 57 positions in the Global Quality Index published by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
Oman now ranks 60th globally among 155 countries and stands sixth in the Middle East, a notable improvement from its previous position of 117th in the last edition of the index.
Dr. Saleh Said Masan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Industry and Commerce, emphasized that the Ministry has prioritized the specifications and standards sector.
He noted that this achievement reflects the positive impact of the national specifications and standards system, which was initiated in 2022 and encompasses seven key initiatives. These include the Hazm Platform for measurement services, the Omani conformity system, the establishment of the Oman Accreditation Centre, and initiatives for regulating precious metals, among others.
The improvement in the index is attributed to the enhancement of the quality system, the encouragement of innovation, and the simplification of export and import processes. This progress demonstrates the effectiveness of national policies aimed at improving the business environment and attracting foreign investments, he stated.
The Ministry is also focused on investing in the training of nationals in standardization to ensure ongoing progress in this area, aiming for high performance metrics and the development of a digital system utilizing artificial intelligence, he added.
Emad bin Khamis Al Shukaili, the Director General of the Directorate General of Specifications and Metrology at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, stated that the execution of the strategic initiative to enhance the national system for specifications and measurements aligns closely with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the 10th five-year plan. This initiative also encompasses collaborative efforts aimed at digitizing standards services and advancing national laboratories.
He emphasized that the quality index serves as a crucial instrument for assessing and enhancing performance in areas related to quality.
