The SMIIC (1+1) Project continued on 2 September 2026 with the first part of a training module on institutional development and the strengthening of national standardization bodies (NSBs), bringing together 58 participants from national standardization, metrology and accreditation institutions across SMIIC Member States.

The session was presented by Ms. Dohana V. Femina of the National Standardization Agency of Indonesia (BSN), the mentoring institution of the programme. She opened with an overview of the SMIIC Strategic Plan and of the global halal quality infrastructure, setting out the complementary roles of standardization, metrology and accreditation. The presentation then turned to Indonesia’s own experience: the legal framework underpinning the national standardization system, the development and periodic review process of Indonesian National Standards (SNI), and the mechanisms for their voluntary and mandatory implementation, including certification and the use of the SNI mark. The session closed with a discussion of BSN’s organisational structure and of the efficiency gained by bringing standardization, metrology and accreditation together within a single institution.

Participants from Afghanistan, Iran, Uganda and other Member States shared updates on their national systems and raised questions on the criteria for adopting standards, the monitoring of compliance, the building of a national quality infrastructure, and the practical challenges of institutional strengthening. In responding, Ms. Femina underlined the importance of a sound legal framework, sustained stakeholder engagement, and the use of technology to support standardization processes.

The module was prepared in response to the needs submitted by the Afghanistan Standard and Quality Authority (ASQA), which formed the largest group of participants, and was opened to all interested Member States. Participants also joined from The Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), and the Iran National Standards Organization (INSO) together with the National Accreditation Center of Iran (NACI) and the National Metrology Center of Iran (NMCI), among others.

The second part of the module will be held on 9 September 2026.

Implemented under Project No. 16 of the Two-Year Implementation Plan 2025–2026, the SMIIC (1+1) Project pairs advanced Member States with those seeking support in standardization, metrology and conformity assessment. Following its launch on 4 August 2026, further online sessions will continue throughout September.