H.E. Ms. Suraksha Hirasingh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation of Suriname, and her accompanying delegation Ms. Sarita Jageswar/ Deputy Director of Internal Market of the Ministry, and Mr. Tanwir Hassankhan, SMIIC Focal Point for the Republic of Suriname, paid a courtesy visit to SMIIC headquarters on 10 August 2026, 1 as part of the COMCEC Peer-to-Peer Experience Sharing Visit, held under the theme “Strengthening the Capacity of the Metrology Department of Suriname.”

The meeting provided a valuable platform for exchanging experiences and discussing opportunities to further strengthen Suriname’s engagement in SMIIC’s programmes and activities, while exploring avenues for cooperation in support of the continued development of Suriname’s National Quality Infrastructure (NQI).

The programme included an

• Introduction to SMIIC, its Institutional Framework, and Building Trust Through Harmonized OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards and the Standardization Framework, delivered by Yasin ZÜLFİKAROĞLU, SMIIC Expert and Secretary of the Standardization Management Council (SMC),
• Emel Gönce, SMIIC Expert, Metrology Council Coordinator, presented “Driving Excellence in Halal Issues: The Mission and Achievements of the SMIIC Metrology Council,” highlighting the Council’s role and contributions to the development of metrology within the OIC/SMIIC framework.
• Furthermore, Dr. Marwa Khalil, SMIIC Expert, Training Programme Coordinator, presented “The Role of the SMIIC Training Center and SMIIC Academy of Halal Learning in Capacity Building,” outlining opportunities for knowledge development, training, and capacity enhancement through SMIIC’s programmes.

The meeting was followed by an interactive dialogue and experience-sharing session, during which delegations exchanged views on common challenges, shared national experiences, and explored potential areas for future collaboration, particularly in the fields of metrology, standardization, technical cooperation, and capacity building.

SMIIC highly values its cooperation with Suriname and welcomes opportunities to further strengthen Suriname’s participation in the Institute’s activities and initiatives. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and capacity building in supporting the advancement of National Quality Infrastructure and contributing to stronger regional and international cooperation.