In conjunction with ISO General Assembly Annual Meetings to be held this year in Dubai – UAE during the period 11-17 October, a coordinative conference will be held among the participating Arab delegations with the purpose of coordinating the completion of relevant measures for establishing the Arab Union of Standards Users. In this respect, Dr. Eng. Mahmoud Eisa, EOS President, has pointed out that the Unions of Standards Users are members of the International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN) that comprises 75 Unions as these Unions are concerned with the application of standards and the support of their use in all fields. The idea of establishing the Arab Union of Standards Users has emerged as ISO has assigned EOS, being the Regional Liaison Officer for the Arab and Mediterranean Region in ISO, to study the establishment of national or regional unions for reinforcing, applying and using standards.

Thereupon, EOS has conducted a study for establishing the Arab Union of Standards Users due to the need of Arab trade for confirming the use of unified Arab standards to eliminate barriers to trade, in addition that the Union supports the organization of standards' application related conferences, seminars and training programs as well as the removal of obstacles and problems related to the use process among Arab countries.

Dr. Eisa added that a note has previously been submitted on the establishment of this Union to H.E. Eng. Rachid M. Rachid, Minister of Trade and Industry, which he approved, in principle, to support Arab intra- trade. Moreover, representatives of more than 13 Arab countries have participated as founders for this Union and also 11 Arab Unions for Trade and Industry have accepted to participate as founders as well for this Union.

In addition, the objective of the forthcoming meeting in Dubai is to coordinate and set up the criteria of selecting the Union Council comprising its President, Vice-President, Secretary General and members. There is an intention towards that the Union President would be selected from the Arab notables and businessmen affecting the Arab trade and

industry, and that the Secretary General should have an executive personality well known to the Arab organizations, institutions along with industrial and commercial society so as to ensure the strength of the Union. It is planned to hold a second meeting during next November in Cairo for the founders to publicize the Union and its constitution in the light of principles and criteria to be laid down and approved in Dubai conference next month.