Dubai, Nov.16,2006 (WAM) -- UAE will host the 31st General AssemblyAnnual Meeting of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)on October 12 - 17, 2008, which will be the first time to take place inthe Middle East and Africa.

The event, that is expecting the attendance of more than 700 officialsand experts, has been approved to be held in Dubai by ISO Council, afterthe invitation from ESMA to host the event in the recent ISO Meetingsin Canada.

During the Press Conference of ESMA today, which was attended by Alan Bryden, ISO Secretary General, H.E. Walid Bin Falah Al-Mansouri,ESMA Director General, and a number of UAE officials,Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, ESMA Vice-Chairman, stated that the successof the UAE in holding the ISO Annual Meetings has been the result of thecountry?s good reputation, its distinguished relation! with the internationalcommunities, and its great capabilities and infrastructure.

They commended the great support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance & Industry andChairman of ESMA. They also praised the great efforts of ESMAin communicating with ISO members, and in preparing and providing allthe necessary requirements for hosting such event.

Dr. Rashid declared that holding such an Important InternationalEvent will contribute in revealing the civilized aspect of the UAE, itscontributions on the international level, and its commitment in playingan effective international role to serve the UAE?s strategic interestsalong with supporting the efforts and interests of the Arab and Islamicstates within the framework of implementing the policies and instructionsof the country?s supreme command headed by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin ZayedAl Nahyan, the President of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin RashidAl Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Rulerof Dubai, and the members of the Supreme Council.

In addition,. He clarified that holding such an event will enhance theregional leading position of the UAE as a distinguished regional and internationalcenter for trade, highlight the government efforts to adopt and encourageinternational standards and practices, and prevail the government effortsto spread awareness of the importance of international standardizationand its role in economic development, international trade and the spreadof quality culture. Hosting ISO Meetings will further enhance the spreadand the support for standardization culture in the UAE and the regionas an indispensable tool for administrative and industrial development,along with the chance for meeting with the international delegations andexperts to exchange ideas and expertise, by the UAE participant delegatesfrom different industrial and economic sectors. Hence, this holding willcontribute in prevailing t! he UAE commercial and industrial capabilitiesand activities that abide by the quality standards.

He extended his thanks and gratitude for the great and continuous supportof Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and to the distinguishedand big efforts of ESMA in supporting the UAE?s for hosting the ISO Meetings,where he praised the support of the ISO members from the GCC States andthe Arab and friendly countries in choosing UAE for hosting the meetingsof 2008.

On the other hand, Alan Bryden, ISO Secretary General, extended histhanks and gratitude to the UAE for hosting the ISO annual meetings, wherehe stated that holding such a world event reflects the UAE commitmentand support for international organizations, and the confidence of ISOand all its members in the advanced capabilities and infrastructure ofthe UAE in all fields, where it has been eligibly proven through hostingand organizing a vast variety of important international confe! rencesand exhibitions.

ISO is considered one of the main inter national organizations that playa great role in facilitating trade exchange among countries through issuinginternational standards that form a common language for all parties ofthe trade operation. ISO was established in 1946, headquartered in Geneva,and is involved in developing international standards for products, services,operations, materials, and administrative systems in the fields of qualitymanagement, environmental management, vocational safety and health, nutritionsafety, and the accreditation of the individuals working in these fields.

ISO also develops standards to verify conformity assessment, administrationand administrative practices, where it is considered one of the threeinternational referential organizations recognized by the World TradeOrganization (WTO) as sources for international standards.

The ISO membership consists of representatives from national standardizationbodies from all over the world, where the number of its members has re!ached around 157 countries with membership status that varies among fulland correspondent members, in addition to the membership of numerous regionaland international organizations and authorities relevant to standardizationactivities, industrial unions, the International Union for Consumers,and non-governmental societies.

ESMA represents the UAE in ISO membership as a Full Member since 2000.

and ISO holds its regular meeting annually for its assembly committeesand the ISO Governing Council.

These meetings encompass specialized workshops, open to the public andthe participants, where they discuss successful experiences at the hostingcountry, and subjects of an international dimension relevant to standardizationactivities. The meetings were held in Singapore in 2005, in Ottawa ? Canada? in 2006, and to be held in Geneva ? ISO Headquarters ? in 2007.