BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JUNE 22
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, represented by the Oman Accreditation Centre, marked World Accreditation Day 2026 here on June 22, 2026 under the theme “Innovation, Trust and Sustainability: The Power of Accreditation”. The event drew a number of officials, experts and representatives of government and private bodies, underscoring the importance of accreditation as one of the cornerstones of the quality infrastructure and its role in supporting economic development and enhancing the competitiveness of various sectors.
Through the event, the Ministry affirmed its continued commitment to developing the national quality system and strengthening the reliability of services, products and processes, helping to raise confidence in the results of inspection, testing, examination and certification, support the business and investment environment, and facilitate the flow of trade, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
In his opening address, Dr Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre, said the Ministry attaches great importance to the accreditation system as one of the fundamental pillars of the quality infrastructure, noting that accreditation has become a central element in building trust, stimulating innovation and ensuring the quality of products and services in line with international best practice. He added that the Centre continues its efforts to strengthen its regional and international presence and complete the requirements for international recognition, helping to enhance the international acceptance of the results of national conformity assessment bodies, support Omani exports and attract investment.
He pointed out that during the first half of 2026 the Centre registered more than 202 conformity assessment bodies, including testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies. It also carried out assessment and accreditation of a number of national laboratories in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025, helping to raise the efficiency of the testing and inspection sector and strengthen confidence in its results both locally and internationally.
The programme included a visual presentation on World Accreditation Day 2026 delivered by Nouf bint Abdulaziz al Balushi, Head of the Accreditation Department at the Oman Accreditation Centre, who reviewed this year’s theme, “Innovation, Trust and Sustainability: The Power of Accreditation”, and highlighted the growing role of accreditation in supporting innovation and digital transformation, building trust between regulators, the private sector and consumers, and supporting sustainability across various vital sectors.
Al Balushi also presented a working paper on the international recognition of the Oman Accreditation Centre, addressing the Centre’s efforts to apply the international standard ISO/IEC 17011 and the requirements of regional and international accreditation organisations, along with the steps it is taking towards securing international recognition. This would strengthen the acceptance of national conformity assessment results in regional and global markets and reduce the need for re-testing or re-certification.
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