OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2010. Electing our country Chair of the Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (ISC) of the Commonwealth of Independent States for 2010-2011 became substantial evidence of an increasingly enhanced international authority of Turkmenistan and worldwide recognition of its achievements on the path of progressive development. This decision was unanimously adopted at the 37th meeting of the Interstate Council that had taken place recently in Odessa (Ukraine) with the participation of the heads of the relevant agencies from the CIS member states. The traditional symbol of the Interstate Council was handed over to Turkmenistan as the presiding country that will host a regular meeting of the Interstate Council in 2011.

As is known, the CIS Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification is an intergovernmental body of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the high-level body of which is the Interstate Council members meeting. The Council aims its activity at promoting fruitful international economic, scientific and technical and commercial cooperation among commodity producers on the vast common goods market, eliminating technical barriers to trade, increasing competitiveness of goods and in this context facilitating effective partnership in the field of standardization, metrology, certification and quality.

These aspects were reflected in the agenda of the meeting conducted in Odessa with the participation of the representatives of the authoritative international and regional organisations for standardization, metrology, certification and accreditation. These included ISO, СEN-СENELEK, СOOMET, PTB, ASI (Austria), BSI (United Kingdom), DIN and GTZ (Germany), AFNOR (France), PKN (Poland), UNMS (Slovakia), TAСIS and others. The discussion focused on the issues such as developing modern interstate and interregional standards and norms, assuring the uniformity of measurements, protection of consumers from bad-quality goods, use of advanced technologies and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment by the standards agencies.

The fact that Turkmenistan was unanimously entrusted with the important and noble mission to chair the Interstate Council testifies to substantial progress our country has made in adopting international quality standards in all sectors of economy and production sphere particularly to protect the health of people and ensure environmental security. These bright accomplishments gained by Turkmenistan on the path of progressive reforms have been recognized in the world arena.

The illustrative examples include textile industry manufacturing goods the quality of which is recognized by the international certificates including ISO 9001 Quality management systems, ISO 14001 environmental management standard, World Responsibility for Apparel Production (WRAP) and OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems.. The high quality of goods and services is a major requirement and unalterable rule set to all sectors of the national economy by Turkmenistan’s social and economic development strategy initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the epoch of new Revival and fundamental reforms.

Having accumulated the positive experience in implementing the social and economic development programmes, Turkmenistan is always open for mutually advantageous partnership. Our country as an associate member of the Commonwealth of Independent States pursues the policy of mutually advantageous cooperation with all CIS member states. The national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reiterates that Turkmenistan in this status will continue to actively participate in the CIS’s activities taking a consistent approach to partnership in priority fields and facilitating a fruitful dialogue in common interests. This is vividly evidenced by our country’s participation in the activities of the Interstate Council.

Also, this autumn Turkmenistan will host the 16th meeting of the scientific and technical committee of the CIS Interstate Council focusing on state regulation and analysis of compliance with standards and norms and design of appropriate methodology.