Meeting in Tbilisi under the Framework of EU Partnership in Standardization

On 25 April the Georgian National Agency for Standards and Metrology of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development hosted a meeting in the hotel Courtyard Marriott, under the framework of the European Union project related to partnership with the EU in the field of standardization.

The event was held in support of developing Georgia’s standardization and metrology infrastructure in accordance with the best practices in the EU and was attended by 70 representatives of the business and non-government sectors.

Opening statements were delivered by dignitaries from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), the Management Centre (CMCC), and by Mr. Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mr. David Tkemaladze, General Director of the National Agency for Standards and Metrology of Georgia and leaders of the AECOM Consortium.

Mr. Genadi Arveladze emphasized EU–Georgia relations and reforms passed in standardization fields:

“In addition to various other programmes, the European Union assists us in both institutional development as well as in quality oriented infrastructure development. Throughout the last three years, laboratories have been re-equipped, bringing them on par with international standards. Today, the National Agency for Standards and Metrology of Georgia is more of a service provider in terms of international standardizations. It implements European standards as Georgian standards in the country, helping bring Georgian produce to an international, European standards’ level, helping high-quality produce export to the EU market. This is very important for Georgian entrepreneurs.”

Mr. David Tkemaladze noted that the seminar was aimed at Georgian entrepreneurs and individuals involved with the standardization project:

“Today’s meeting is meant to emphasize the role of EU–Georgia relations and standardization in this field. The seminar is financed by the European Union. As you are aware, the National Agency for Standards and Metrology is a self-governing body within the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and is a beneficiary of the Comprehensive Institution Building project.”

The participants delivered presentations on an important aspect of the Georgia–EU Association Agreement, the DCFTA, referring to the approximation of Georgian economy to that of the EU and export of Georgian produce to the EU market.

At the end of the seminar the delegates discussed the role of technical committees in advancing Georgia’s progress in the standardization field, coordination of European standardization and standards development.