ISO GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING – Inaugural speech on 21.9.2011 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi

Shri Rajiv Agarwal, Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Shri Sharad Gupta, Director General, Bureau for Indian Standards, Dr. Boris Aleshin, President of the International Organisation for Standardisation, Mr. Robert Steele, Secretary General, International Organisation for Standardisation, distinguished invitees and participants, ladies and gentlemen.

I have great pleasure in associating myself with the 34th General Assembly of the International Organisation for Standardisation. At the outset let me extend a hearty welcome to all the delegates from over 125 countries who are participating in this Assembly which is of great significance in furthering the cause of standardisation across the world. India is justly proud of its role in hosting the General Assembly of the ISO way back in 1964. We are delighted that slightly more than four and half decades later the distinguished representatives of the ISO fraternity are yet again meeting in India. It is noteworthy that the organisation of this Assembly is happily coinciding with the ISO General Assembly week which is being observed from 19th to 24th September 2011.

Standardisation and variety is part and parcel of the creation. Human civilisation in all its marvellous manifestations demonstrate the inalienable process of standardisation which gave shape and meaning to them. We are familiar with the fact that after the Second World War standardisation of goods and services acquired global significance. Therefore 25 countries of the world came together and took a decision to establish an international organisation to unify international standards. As a result the International Standards Organisation was established and commenced its functioning in 1947. I recall that India, which established its Indian Standards Institute in the same year, was one of the founder members of the ISO.

Essentially the process of standardisation was found to be of greater importance in the economic sphere than any other sphere. The predominance of geo-economics as opposed to geo-politics following the end of cold war created necessary conditions for integration of markets of different countries in an unprecedented manner. The issue of standardisation acquired greater currency in such an integrated market. Of late, the import of standardisation has been realised with added vigour in meeting the needs of consumer, trade and industry and above all in promoting the cause of innovation and sustainable development.

The idea and practice of standardisation has always been integral to the vision of our political and technological leadership to revive our economy which suffered colonial exploitation and build our nation along modern lines. Our first Prime Minister and architect of modern India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru while laying the foundation stone of the Indian Standards Institution on 21st August 1954 stressed on high quality and standard of goods and services produced both by big and cottage industries. He also understood standards as essential element of planning. Today India is rated as a major player in determining the contours of global economic growth. The epicentre of world economy is irreversibly shifting to this part of the globe. With the unleashing of our entrepreneurial spirit following the introduction of full-fledged economic reforms in the early 1990s our stature as major economic power house of the world has been acknowledged in glowing terms. Our rate of growth is impressive. It is advantage India because of our huge population, significant component of which is youth. It is against such back ground that we understand the significance of this Assembly.

While talking to you let me bring in a bit of philosophy. To see the larger aspects of life in smaller ones means to have a broader vision. A poet sees the world in a grain of sand. With the world wide adoption of ISO norms the quest for standardised products has become the defining theme of the market. The coordinates of standard now determine the level and extent of the marketability of the product. The late Vice President of India Mr. K.R.Narayanan while inaugurating the world Congress on Total Quality on 19th January 1993 had poetically said that “Vast world market is manifest in a well standardised and quality product”. Therefore, the economies of the world can be easily judged in terms of the standards they have adopted in consonance with the ISO norms.

We in India have always been active supporters of national and international standardisation work. We recognise standardisation as a vital component of our growth engine, an important facilitator of trade and a major tool for protection of consumer interest. A statute of Parliament of 1986, the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, formally provides a regime to legally uphold the ideal of standards. The enactment of that legislation constituted a landmark in taking forward the cause of our economy. The BIS has been at the forefront of the Government’s effort in providing value based services to the citizens of this country and safeguarding the country’s technological interests by formulating Indian Standards, which reflect India’s technical competence. I am confident that the ISO General Assembly will help the Bureau of Standards to showcase the robustness of standardisation in India at the world stage and demonstrate competence and competitiveness of our industry and trade.

Friends, If we study and survey the total quality movement we find that the quality of a product has to be understood in terms not only the quality of the end product but also in terms of the quality of management, quality of human relations, of company performance, and work environment. It is, therefore, evident that quality of a product is understood in a very comprehensive and overarching sense.

In a similar vein the movement for standardisation has to be all encompassing. It has of course to be related to the product, consumer, trade, industry and all the stakeholders. But it has to also address the issue of sustainability of business which has to be in harmony with nature and the larger planet. A planetary consciousness has to be developed in evolving the standards.

In this context, it is heartening to note that the ISO has already published International Standard on Energy Management System (ISO 50001). This will help to address the challenge of energy management in the world. I am given to understand that the ISO is organising a regional seminar on ISO 50001 in New Delhi during November 2011. I am sure that it will be a precursor to the many other forward looking steps for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. I am also given to understand that international standards in the areas of financial planning, tourism, market research and exhibition management are being developed. This is a welcome development.

Distinguished delegates, this is the age of innovation. Without innovation economy, industry and growth will be stunted. The father of management discipline, Professor Peter Drucker in his article ‘The Age of Social Transformation’ famously stated that fast emerging knowledge society will depend critically on innovation. We in India had established an Innovation Council. It is, therefore, important that the ISO should foster new initiatives and proactively anticipate new areas where international standardisation might support innovation. In fact standardisation is compatible with innovation. This idea must be driven home across the world through the ISO. This is essential to make business, particularly small business, more competitive and productive. In fact standardisation and variety constitute the recipe for progress. It is very thoughtful on the part of the organisers to have chosen the theme “Industry and Standards - Fostering Innovation and Building Competitive Advantage” for tomorrow’s Open Session. I wish the deliberations all success and hope that all stakeholders will benefit from its proceedings.

I am sure that the convening of this Assembly will enable our Government and private sector and all other stake holders to remain tuned to the ever evolving standards which are adopted in every economic activity across the world. I once again welcome you and wish you a comfortable and enjoyable stay in India. I have great pleasure in declaring the 34th ISO General Assembly open and am confident that deliberations of the Assembly will be productive, constructive and forward looking.
Thank you.
JAI HIND.