ABU DHABI // The UAE should emulate Singapore to improve its infrastructure, experts told the Abu Dhabi Quality Forum (ADQF) 2014.
Running under the banner “From Local to Global”, the event aimed to share best practices between government agencies and industry leaders.
At the opening session of the forum, Dr Steve Lai, a board member of the Regional Institute of Environmental Technology in Singapore, explained how his city’s model of quality infrastructure could be applicable to the UAE.
He said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were crucial to the process.
“The way it was done was the SMEs would support the multinational [companies] by getting contracts and such, and then the government would help support the SMEs in terms of metrology, testing and certification support.
“So I’ve always said quality, but all the work should somehow lead to the quality of life, and not just do quality for the sake of quality.”
Dr Lai’s work in Abu Dhabi stretches back to 2004, when he helped to establish the Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), the government agency responsible for developing quality infrastructure and raising awareness about quality standards in Abu Dhabi.
“We are very glad that the QCC has come to fruition. We can see how it’s going and we will continue to share our experience so that the team over here can pick and choose, because the UAE’s circumstances are very different now from what we were doing 10 years ago,” he said.
According to Dr Lai those differences include wireless internet connectivity as a productivity tool and resource. He said that the UAE’s ability to study the models of the past was its greatest advantage.
“You have something that a lot of other quality-infrastructure people don’t have,” he said.
“You have already studied the hindsight of all the other QCC infrastructures in the world, so you know where and how they are doing.”
Dr Lai said that in a lot of ways Singapore was now trying to play catch-up with the achievements that the UAE had made.
Ali Al Mansoori, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, said the government must support the industry through efficient regulation, competitive testing and measurement facilities.
“Product quality and competitiveness are key to building a diversified economy driven by growth in non-oil sectors. This will further reinforce the UAE’s status in the global arena as an innovation-based economy.”
He said the ADQF should be used as a platform for dialogue, exchange and innovation towards achieving Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
“In this regard, the second instalment of ADQF will focus on topics such as standards, measurements, testing capabilities and compliance, highlighting their role in supporting industrial sectors in Abu Dhabi and the wider region,” he said.
More than 1,750 people took part in this year’s ADQF, which was held at the St Regis Saadiyat hotel.
The Emirates Metrology Institute (EMI) was also launched at the forum.
Used for research and educational purposes, EMI aims to establish solid quality infrastructure in the country by providing “all measurements, references and standards to ensure compliance with international measurement specifications and standards,” the state news agency Wam reported.
naswasmi@thenational.ae
