A five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Saudi Accreditation Centre (SAC) and the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) to help improve quality infrastructure and boost consumer confidence. This is one of the most notable among several agreements being reached between Saudi Arabia and the UK recently.
Matt Gantley, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UKAS and Dr Adel Alkeaid, the Executive Director of SAC signed the MoU on 16th March 2022 to establish a long sustainable professional relationship between the two national Accreditation Bodies.
Both SAC and UKAS are experts in the field of accreditation and expressed their willingness to share individual knowledge, experience and expertise through this MoU for national quality infrastructure building.
UKAS and SAC agreed to work jointly to offer technical consultation and support, implement joint certification programmes on areas of mutual interest, and develop plans for accredited activities.
Besides consultations and support services, the MoU also addressed several other aspects of cooperation such as training programs, joint events, and any other promotional aspects for enhancing trade exchanges between the two nations.
While the accreditation authority in the UK is one of the oldest and leading accreditation bodies in the world, the SAC is the only national body authorized to grant accreditation services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for conformity assessment bodies in the field of inspection and certification bodies, testing and calibration laboratories.
This MoU will help Saudi Arabia to establish its global status as a top-class-quality provider of products and services and enhance the economic prosperity of the country through increased trade and investments.
The agreement formalizes the engagement of UKAS with SAC to boost accreditation services and establish and develop a strong long-term relationship for cooperation and facilitation of international trade and investment through reduction of barriers and increased foreign investment through new company formation in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Al-Qaid noted saying, ‘The MoU stems from the centre’s strategy in developing the technical competencies and capabilities of the centre and preparing qualified national personnel of assessors and experts, which contributes to strengthening the role of accreditation and its importance in the quality infrastructure in Saudi, benefiting from research, studies and joint experiences.’
‘We welcome this opportunity to work with SAC to increase services and capacity, developing an even stronger relationship of mutual long-term cooperation and aiding in the reduction of barriers to international trade,’ the CEO of UKAS commented.
In 2021, the Saudi Accreditation Center (SAC) gained national achievement by obtaining global recognition from the International Laboratory Accreditation Organization (ILAC), through the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC), in the areas of accreditation of testing laboratories, calibration laboratories and inspection bodies.
It is believed that the MoU will bring global recognition for national quality infrastructure services in Saudi Arabia and contribute significantly to the Kingdom’s signing of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. It would also enhance the confidence of the International investment community in investing and doing business in Saudi Arabia.
Accreditation activity has long been recognised as one of the most important pillars of national quality infrastructure for its crucial role in enhancing the quality and adequacy of services and products, and increasing consumer confidence.
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