Today, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, represented by the Oman Accreditation Centre, celebrated World Accreditation Day 2026 under the theme "Innovation, Trust, and Sustainability: The Power of Accreditation," with the participation of a number of officials, experts, and representatives from government and private entities.
The celebration underscores the importance of accreditation as a fundamental pillar of the quality infrastructure and its role in supporting economic development and enhancing the competitiveness of various sectors.
Through this event, the Ministry affirmed its ongoing commitment to developing the national quality system and enhancing the reliability of services, products, and processes. This contributes to increasing confidence in the results of testing, inspection, and certification, supporting the business and investment environment, and facilitating trade, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Dr. Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre, explained that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion gives great importance to the accreditation system as one of the fundamental pillars of the quality infrastructure. He pointed out that accreditation has become a pivotal element in building trust, stimulating innovation, and ensuring the quality of products and services according to best international practices.
He added that the Oman Accreditation Center continues its efforts to strengthen its regional and international presence and fulfill the requirements for international recognition, which contributes to enhancing international acceptance of the results of national conformity assessment bodies, supporting Omani exports, and attracting investments.
He noted that during the first half of 2026, the Center registered more than 202 conformity assessment bodies, including testing and calibration laboratories and inspection and certification bodies. It also conducted assessments and accreditation processes for a number of national laboratories according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025, which contributes to raising the efficiency of the testing and inspection sector and enhancing confidence in its results both locally and internationally.
The event program included several presentations and working papers on World Accreditation Day 2026, the international recognition of the Oman Accreditation Center, the role of quality and accreditation in the advancement of water services, and the regulatory framework for testing and calibration laboratories. The event also included a specialized session entitled "From Registration to Accreditation: An Integrated National Framework for Enhancing the Quality and Efficiency of Laboratories."
The event concluded with a practical simulation of laboratory assessment processes according to the requirements of the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. Specialists from the Oman Accreditation Center and a number of laboratories and technical assessors participated in the simulation, which aimed to familiarize participants with assessment and accreditation procedures and promote awareness of internationally recognized best practices in this field.
This event is part of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion's efforts to develop the national quality system and enhance the competitiveness of the Omani economy. This is achieved by improving the efficiency of conformity assessment bodies, empowering national laboratories, and supporting innovation and sustainability, thereby contributing to increased investor and consumer confidence and facilitating access for Omani products and services to regional and global markets.
