Pictured: Secretary General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Sergio Mujica addresses a one-day seminar sponsored by the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ), October 27, 2017. (BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)

Secretary General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Sergio Mujica was in The Bahamas October 27 for a one-day seminar sponsored by the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ).

Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration Brent Symonette delivered welcome remarks and said that the government welcomes the concept of standardization and is cognisant of its importance in meeting international compliance.

“We must find ways to diversify our economy and we can only compete effectively if we have standards that are accepted worldwide,” said Minister Symonette.

“Currently, the Ministry of Financial Services is moving forward with World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to advance trade.”

Also in attendance was Acting Minister of Labour Elsworth Johnson, who delivered brief remarks.

Keynote speaker, Sergio Mujica, expressed his appreciation of being in The Bahamas and discussed the important role that standards play in a country. He told attendees that standards affect every facet of society.

“Standards are everywhere and affect every aspect of our daily lives, “ said Mujica. “They are an essential component of the economic and social development of our communities.”

Giving an overview of standards and their benefits to several tiers of a society, Mujica said that standards are beneficial to businesses, consumers, policymakers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and industries including tourism and agriculture.

He said that benefits include an increase in customer satisfaction; access to new markets; high degree of acceptance of products and services; environmental sustainability; reduction in costs; and improvement in the quality of tourism and agriculture products.