In celebration of World Halal Standards Day 2026, and in line with the SMIIC Strategic Plan 2021–2030, particularly Strategic Goal 2, which focuses on supporting Member States’ needs and stakeholder engagement, and Strategic Goal 3, which aims to strengthen quality infrastructure and enhance interconnectivity among Member States, the SMIIC General Secretariat organized a virtual capacity-building programme for the staff of the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Sultanate of Oman(DGSM), Sultanate of Oman, on 02–03 June 2026.
The programme was organized following the Sultanate of Oman’s accession to the SMIIC family in 2026 and aimed to introduce DGSM personnel to SMIIC’s institutional framework, OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards, technical activities, and digital infrastructure. The program included a Seminar: “Introduction to SMIIC and OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards” and a Workshop: “SMIIC Information System (SMIIC IS)”.
Seminar: Introduction to SMIIC and OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards
On 2 June 2026, upon the request of DGSM, the SMIIC General Secretariat conducted a virtual seminar entitled “Introduction to SMIIC and OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards”, delivered in Arabic. The seminar provided participants with a comprehensive overview of SMIIC, including its mission, strategic objectives, organizational structure, and core activities. Participants were also introduced to the OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards, their significance in strengthening the global halal ecosystem, and their role in facilitating trade among OIC Member States through harmonized standards and conformity assessment practices.
Workshop: SMIIC Information System (SMIIC IS)
On 3 June 2026, the SMIIC General Secretariat organized a virtual workshop on the SMIIC Information System (SMIIC IS), delivered in English. The workshop aimed to provide DGSM staff with a comprehensive understanding of SMIIC’s digital infrastructure, which supports standards development processes and the work of SMIIC Technical Committees.
Strengthening Engagement with a New Member State:
As a new member the Sultanate of Oman just recently joined SMIIC in 2026. The programme provided an important opportunity to introduce SMIIC’s institutional identity, strategic priorities, and operational mechanisms to a new Member State. It also highlighted the various ways DGSM can actively contribute to SMIIC’s activities while benefiting from SMIIC's collaborative and knowledge-sharing platform.
The programme was highly productive and witnessed active participation from DGSM representatives.
The SMIIC General Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States through capacity-building programmes, technical cooperation activities, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen quality infrastructure and promote harmonization across the OIC region.
