Organizers

CCC Standardization Organization (GSO)

The CCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a financially and administratively independent entity that is concerned with standardizing of standards, conformity verification procedures, accreditation, and measurements at the level of GCC States. GSO activities were launched in May 2005 taking up after the Gulf Standardization and Metrology Organization (GSMO), which was founded and commenced its work in 1980. Most importantly among GSO objectives, is to advance standardization activities in GCC countries, in collaboration with GCC national standardization bodies, by contributing to GCC consumer protection of health, safety, and environment, development of production and service sectors, and enhancing trade among GCC countries and other countries of the world, and by removal of non-customs technical barriers, in support of GCC Customs Union, and in giving effect to the objectives and goals of intra-GCC unified Economic Agreement, eventually aiming at achievement of the GCC Common Market.

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
 
IEC is an International body established in 1906. It has now 52 Full Members Countries, 17 Associate Members Countries and 79 Affiliate Members Countries. IEC includes an increasing number of Technical Committee (TC) reaches to 114 TC, most of those TCs having sub-committees (SC). IEC is responsible for issuing international standard in the area of electrical and electronic and some of the areas of communications, it also cover the International Conformity Assessment systems in the Electrotechnical field, the national committees have the membership of IEC with different levels according to their economic status and the size of its production of electrical energy , at the Arab level, Saudi Arabia , Arab Republic of Egypt and Libya are full member in IEC, all Members are treated as national committees representing standardization activities in the electricity sector in there countries. IEC operate to complete its work by technical and administrative committees and subcommittees exceeds the 200, and work groups of over 400, including a large number of experts, working in various specialized areas, in different parts of the world, and come together in the specific timing for preparation and discussion of the draft international standards, they share a great deal of information and comments through an electronic information system, through which the participants effectively have the opportunity access smoothly to required information using special passwords granted to them by the national committees. Those committees form a link between research and development and international standards, the standards they issued, are used as references for preparation of contracts in all electrical techniques, and adopted as local standards.

Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components(IECEE)

In recognition of the need to facilitate international trade in electrical equipment, primarily intended for use in homes, offices, workshops, healthcare facilities and similar locations, for benefit of consumers, industries, authorities etc, and to provide convenience for manufacturers and other users of the services provided by various National Certification Bodies (NCBs), an international Scheme is operated by the IECEE (IEC System for Conformity testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components), known as the CB Scheme. The Scheme is based on the principle of mutual recognition (reciprocal acceptance) by its members of test results for obtaining certification or approval at national level. The Scheme is intended to reduce obstacles to international trade which arise from having to meet different national certification or approval criteria. Participation of the various NCBs within the Scheme is intended to facilitate certification or approval according to IEC standards. Where national standards are not yet completely based on IEC standards, declared national differences will be taken into account; however, successful operation of the Scheme presupposes that national standards are reasonably harmonized with the corresponding IEC standards. Use of the Scheme to its fullest extent will promote the exchange of information necessary in assisting manufacturers around the world to obtain certification or approval at national level. The operating units of the Scheme are the NCBs accepted according to these Rules. Those NCBs employ testing laboratories also accepted according to the Rules, known as CB Testing Laboratories (CBTLs). A list of NCBs is published in the CB Bulletin. The CB Scheme is based on the use of CB Test Certificates which provide evidence that representative specimens of the product have successfully passed tests to show compliance with the requirements of the relevant IEC standard. A supplementary report providing evidence of compliance with declared national differences in order to obtain national certification or approval may also be attached to the CB Test Report. The first step for an NCB, intending to operate in the CB Scheme, is to be accepted as a Recognizing NCB. Such an NCB is prepared to recognize CB Test Certificates as a basis for certification or approval at national level for one or more categories of products. The second step for an NCB, which can be taken at the same time as the first step, is to be accepted as an Issuing and Recognizing NCB. Such an NCB is entitled to issue CB Test Certificates for the categories of equipment for which it recognizes CB Test Certificates. It should, however, be noted that an NCB may recognize CB Test Certificates for more categories of equipment than for which it is entitled to issue CB Test Certificates

Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Kingdom of Bahrain

Since becoming an independent State in 1971, Bahrain has witnessed spectacular economic growth and has transformed from an essentially agricultural base, where the main products were pearls and dates, to a modern industrial, business and service center and is today acknowledged as being the banking hub of the region. Over the past years the Government has been the engine of the economy, using oil revenues diligently in order to provide a modern physical and legal infrastructure without having to resort to traditional forms of taxation. The result is a vibrant economy, a population which is well educated and adaptable, and a private sector ready to reach out to the global market. The Government is now progressively moving way from its involvement in productive processes, to that of facilitator of private sector initiatives.

The Ministry of Industry & Commerce is responsible for a diverse range of activities which make up the commercial environment in Bahrain, including inter alia the registration of all forms of commercial business, commercial agencies, industrial property, standards and metrology, foreign trade as well as a number of other related activities. In general the Ministry's aim is to ensure the maintenance of an open, transparent and market driven commercial environment so as develop Bahrain's economic competitiveness, and to encourage inward investment, at the same time promoting employment for the local population.