Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with the International Commission for Technological Means on Tuesday, Dhu al-Qi'dah 24th, 1436 H corresponding to September 8th, 2015 at SASO's main headquarter in Riyadh. The memorandum aims at enhancing cooperation between the two parties in different standardization fields and activities, transferring and adapting science and technology to local use in order to facilitate the performance of Islamic rituals in addition to training and qualifying the International Commission's staff to work in the field of promoting the competitive capabilities to serve Islamic sciences.
For his part, the governor of SASO, Dr. Sa'ad AlKasabi, praised the International Commission for Technological Means for its efforts in providing, innovating and improving modern technological means and employing them in da'wah (calling) to Allah and in serving Islam. He clarified that the memorandum is based on constructive cooperation between the two parties in adopting the process of transferring and localizing the activities of standardization and the systems of quality and calibration as well as transferring scientific knowledge, studies and research of common interest which are related to standards, quality and calibration.
SASO contributes to serving Islamic sciences by controlling relative technological products' quality, to building international standards in the fields of technological digital means and their applications in Islamic sciences, to setting an integrated system of standards and their testing methods for services needed by Islamic sciences, and to qualifying the" Islamic Digital Accreditation Center at the International Commission for Technological Means" for accreditation, he said.
Dr. AlKasabi explained that signing this memorandum comes as a part of SASO's continuous efforts and its national role in transferring and adapting sciences and technology to local use; it also coincided with the start of launching the plan of "Ma'arifah 2", aiming at accelerating the dissemination of information and focusing on high value-added activities to move to knowledge-intensive industries and knowledge economy with the availability of competitive capability and high quality. Competitive capability and high quality support the development of new technologies in the field of information technology in a way that leads to the achievement of goals, principles and policies of transferring and adapting science and technology to local use, he added.
The governor of SASO pointed out that qualifying the technical staff at the "International Commission" will be done through their participation in training courses , scientific seminars and different activities related to standardization fields hold by SASO as well as participating in technical teams at SASO, international and regional organizations, enhancing the existence of suitable standards that achieve the hopes and expectations of the future vision for the Kingdom to serve Islam and Muslims.
During the signing ceremony, the Secretary General of the International Commission for Technological Means, Dr. Ali bin Muhammed AlObaidi, appreciated SASO's efforts in improving, disseminating and promoting the quality culture in the Kingdom. He indicated that the "International Commission" carries the responsibility of technical teams concerned with preparing Saudi standards and regulations for activities related to the teams' specializations and work field according to the accredited provisions and procedures illustrated in the technical teams' working mechanism for preparing Saudi standards and regulations accredited by SASO.
In addition, the memorandum also aims at exchanging information, technical support and different publications between the two parties continuously in fields related to different activities and work of the "International Commission". Besides, it also aims at providing coordination in the field of collecting, analyzing and publishing information of mutual interest and ensuring that both parties are benefitting from specialists and experts working at them through their participation in conducting programs, taking initiatives and carrying out projects of mutual interest.
Moreover, the memorandum enhances mutual studies and research discussing national issues in the activities of each parties in order to serve Islamic sciences. It also strengthens cooperation in holding workshops, programs, seminars and conferences in the fields agreed upon and promotes the process of setting mutual programs that enhance the culture of standardization, quality and consumer protection in the community. Additionally, it contributes to unifying efforts and adapting Islamic terms to be of use in a way that serves Islam and Muslims and confirms the Kingdom's role as the land of revelation, the birthplace of Islam and the stronghold of Muslims, qualifying it to participate effectively in building, developing and protecting human and Islamic civilization.
The International Commission for Technological Means is considered one of the Muslim World League's commissions. It is an independent corporate body that seeks to accredit digital products of digital Islamic content by using technologies it invented and developed in order to serve the immortal message of Islam.