CORPORATE NEWS:
Afghanistan signs MOU with ASTM
The Afghan National Standardisation Authority (ANSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US-based ASTM International. The agreement will provide technical support to assist in rebuilding Afghani infrastructure and facilitate the adoption of ASTM standards that will, in turn, assist in technology transfer and trade.
In this way it is hoped it will lead to improvements in the quality of life for the Afghani peopele by enhancing public safety, health and environmental welfare.
The Honorable Ziauddin Zia, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Afghanistan – who also serves as the Director of ANSA – and Eugene Julies of the United Nations Industrial Develop-ment Organisation (UNIDO) visited ASTM International headquarters in November 2005 to introduce the newly-established Afghan Standardisation Authority and to sign the MOU.
The MOU, the 43rd signed between ASTM International and a national standards body, will provide the opportunity for ANSA and ASTM to have closer communications.
ASTM International has provided the complete set of its 12,000 standards to ANSA for its use in developing Afghanistan’s national standards.
Additionally the two organisations will jointly take steps to encourage and support greater Afghani participation in ASTM standards development activities and in laboratory proficiency testing programmes. Part of this will be achieved through professional exchange programmes for ANSA experts to visit ASTM International’s headquarters for extended study of the standards development process.
“I am proud that ASTM International is positioned to serve as an important source of technological information to assist Afghanistan in developing its economy and infrastructure, and to improve the quality of life for the Afghan people. I look forward to working with, and learning from, our Afghan colleagues,” said ASTM President James Thomas.
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ASTM International |
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USA |
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+1 610 832 9555 |
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