RIYADH — The leaders of global standardization bodies will discuss the role of standards in strengthening institutional capacities to face crises and limit their negative impacts, as well as ways to enhance standards for digital transformation and benefit from it in crises.

The topic will be debated threadbare in the International Summit for Standards to be organized by the Kingdom within the events of the Saudi Presidency of the G20 and will be held on Wednesday (Nov. 4).

A group of experts and leaders of national standardization bodies from various countries of the world will participate in this summit, including Philipp Metzger, CEO and secretary general of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Sergio Mujica, secretary-general of the International Standardization Organization (ISO), and Houlin Zhao, secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union.

The Governor and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO) Dr. Saad Al-Kasabi, CEO of Food and Drug Authority Prof. Dr. Hisham Bin Saad Al-Jadhey, Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki, assistant minister at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Eng. Abdallah Al-Obeikan, chief executive officer of Obeikan Investment Group, and Eng. Fahad Al-Muammar, vice chairman of the board & partner, of the National Medical Products Company will also participate in this summit.

The International Standards Summit in Riyadh is sponsored by the Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, and organized by the Saudi Standards in partnership and G20 2020 Saudi Arabia.

A number of national and international bodies such as Food and Drug Authority, Communications and Information Technology Commission, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

are partnering in the staging of the summit.

This is a landmark event for a number of reasons. Firstly, its timeliness. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities. Combatting this pandemic calls for a coordinated, concerted global response.

The summit will enable, for the first time, an integrated, introspected and exhaustive look at international standards developed by IEC, ISO and ITU, and their role in global trade as well as in social and economic development.

Key stakeholders and decision makers within G20 member states will be able to exchange experiences and perspectives on the importance of international standards. Two key topics at the top of the agenda: crisis management strategies and digital transformation. — SPA