ISO Focus The Magazine of the International Organization for Standardization Volume 5, No. 9, September 2008, ISSN 1729-8709 The way forward Developing countries and emerging economies • Tata : Increasing competitiveness with ISO standards • Leaders of international organizations speak up Contents 1 Comment Iman Sudarwo, Chair, ISO/DEVCO 2 World Scene Highlights of events from around the world 3 ISO Scene Highlights of news and developments from ISO members 4 Guest View September.indd 1 04.09.2008 11:29:49 Alan Rosling, Executive Director of Tata Sons Limited ISO Focus is published 11 times a year (single issue : July-August). 8 Main Focus It is available in English. Annual subscription 158 Swiss Francs Developing countries and emerging economies Individual copies 16 Swiss Francs Publisher ISO Central Secretariat (International Organization for Standardization) 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse CH-1211 Genève 20 Switzerland Telephone + 41 22 749 01 11 Fax + 41 22 733 34 30 E-mail [email protected] Web www.iso.org Manager : Roger Frost The way forward Acting Editor : Maria Lazarte • Team effort for sustainable development Assistant Editor : Janet Maillard • How International Standards can help Artwork : Pascal Krieger and • Developing countries speak up Pierre Granier • Roadmap to development – the ISO Action Plan ISO Update : Dominique Chevaux • The ( t )winning concept Subscription enquiries : Sonia Rosas Friot • Addressing the needs of developing countries ISO Central Secretariat • Successfully bridging the opportunity gap Telephone + 41 22 749 03 36 • A multicultural effort for a multilingual society Fax + 41 22 749 09 47 E-mail [email protected] • Helping developing countries get started • Sharing the cake – The DIN Endowment Fund © ISO, 2008. All rights reserved. • Financing standardization projects – The how’s and why’s of The contents of ISO Focus are copyright the Inter-American Development Bank and may not, whether in whole or in part, be reproduced, stored in a retrieval • Supporting regional integration – The Southern African system or transmitted in any form or Development Community by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without • Bringing down technical barriers to trade with metrology, written permission of the Editor. accreditation and standardization The articles in ISO Focus express the views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect 40 Developments and Initiatives the views of ISO or of any of its members. ISO/TC Chairs conference • Standards and public procurement ISSN 1729-8709 Printed in Switzerland 46 New on the shelf Cover photo : iStock. 49 Coming up ISO Focus September 2008 Comment Meeting the expectations of developing countries evelopment is not a one-size-fits- ISO standards may be applied publication of the ISO-UNIDO hand- all process. Each country must by organizations of all sizes, includ- book Fast Forward : National Standards Dfind its own path on the way to ing micro and small and medium-sized Bodies [NSBs] in Developing Countries, progress, as ultimately only it can best enterprises, which in developing coun- based on wide and wise expertise, is a tell what its ambitions and needs are. tries often account for the great majori- major contribution to assist NSBs in However, in a globalized world, sustain- ty of businesses. A country implement- exercising this role. able development cannot be achieved in ing International Standards, both for its This issue of ISO Focus reports on isolation. production and its infrastructures, will achievements related to the ISO Action It is now widely recognized that be more attractive to foreign investment Plan, monitored by DEVCO, our Com- International Standards enable access to and procurement. mittee on developing country matters, world markets, the improvement of rela- and on the partnerships to deploy it tionships and interactions among firms “ Since 2005, further. It brings testimonies from var- (thus strengthening the domestic eco- ious national and regional approaches. nomic structure), the dissemination of ISO has been implementing It demonstrates that important progress technology and the transfer of good busi- an ambitious Action Plan has been made and that tools are avail- ness and conformity assessment practic- for developing countries.” able. We must make sure that the impe- es. That is why ISO is actively involved tus is maintained and the resources in promoting their use in developing effectively supplied and used. countries, and in increasing capacity to Since 2005, ISO has been imple- participate in international standardiza- menting an ambitious Action Plan for tion, through national members. Devel- developing countries. Its objectives are oping countries indeed represent 75 % to better identify priorities, to build of ISO’s 157 members. capacity through training and technical By providing global consensus assistance programmes, to facilitate the on characteristics and interoperability access to and use of the IT tools associ- of data, products and services, and by ated with the development and dissem- facilitating international recognition ination of standards, to enhance inter- of conformity assessment and manage- actions at regional and international ment systems, International Standards levels and to increase involvement in facilitate access to world markets. At the governance and technical work of the same time, they provide tools for ISO, for example, through twinning protecting the local population against arrangements. the dumping of low quality or security ISO has partnered with interna- goods through better control of import- tional, regional and national develop- ed products, and this, without creating ment agencies to relay and amplify its technical barriers to trade – a commit- actions, and to promote that raising the Iman Sudarwo ment taken in the context of the World level and performance of the “ quality Chair of ISO/DEVCO Trade Organization by most countries in infrastructure ” is an integral part of eco- which ISO has a member. nomic competitiveness, environmental ISO standards address a number integrity and social progress. of areas of interest to developing coun- Its national members have a key tries, from basic primary industries, man- role to play by monitoring developments ufacturing, building, transportation and in ISO of direct interest to their econo- information technologies to respond- mies ; ensuring national awareness and ing to concerns such as climate change, participation in priority areas ; providing including energy efficiency and envi- information and assistance for imple- ronmental management, food quality menting ISO standards ; and feeding and safety, water quality and distribu- experience and expectations back into tion, healthcare, security and consum- the system to help adjust ISO’s produc- er protection. tion and assistance to their needs. The ISO Focus September 2008 1 World Trade Report The World Trade Report is an annual publication about trends in trade, trade that aims to deepen understanding policy issues and the multilateral trading International trade is integral to the process system. governments in most countries have inc of globalization. Over many years, national trade, whether through reasingly opened their economies WORLD TRADE cooperation or as part of domesthe multilateral trading system, increased rto inter- more generally have brought tic reform programmes. Trade and globalizegional Trade has allowed nations to enormous benefits to many countries and cit ation efficiently. It has raised produ benefit from specialization and to pr izens. REPORT 2008 technologies, and enriched the ractivity, supported the spread of knowledgeoduce and more integration into the world eco nge of choices available to consumers. But deepernew nomy has not always proved to be popul Trade in a Globalizing World the benefits of trade and globalization necessarily reached al As a result, trade scepticism is ar, nor have on the rise in certain quarters.l sections of society. Trade in a Globalizing World The purpose of this year’s Report is to remind ourselves of , whose main theme is “Trade in a Global World Scenewhat we know about the gains from i izing World”, and the challenges arising from higher a range of interlinking ques levels of integration. The nternationalReport trade globalization, what drives it,tions, wh starting with a consideration of what consaddresses and what role does trade play inat benefits does it bring, what challenges d titutes this world of ever-growing inter-dependencyoes it pose Report asks why some countries have managed to take adv costs and greater policy-driven . The antage of falling trade largely outside international commertrading opportunities while others have remai winners and losers are fr cial relations. It also considers who the ned policy-makers to s om trade and what complementary action is ecure the benefits of trade for societ these complex and multi-faceted questions needed from y at large. In examining gains from trade and empirical , the Report reviews both the theoretical evidence that can help to answer these quest 50th anniversary Ms. Eva Molnar, Directorions. of tronic commerce. ISO has pub- WORLD TRADE REPORT 2008 - of vehicle agreement the Transport Division, under- lished over 1 000 International lined the success and the role Standards in these sectors. The 50th anniversary of the of the WP29 as a unique platISBN : 978-92-870-3454-0- The World Trade Report 2008 1958 Agreement concerning the form to develop global solu- can be downloaded