The Afghanistan Standards and Quality Authority and Sri Lanka’s Standards Institution held an online meeting to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, enhancing technical capacities and strengthening ties between the two institutions.
The Afghanistan Standards and Quality Authority announced that Mullah Abdullah Haji Bashir, the authority’s Director-General; Mawlavi Mohammad Asif Qanit, Deputy Director-General for Technical Affairs; Dr. Mohammad Tariq Safi, an adviser to the authority; and several heads of relevant departments participated in the meeting.
Mullah Abdullah Haji Bashir expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s interest in cooperating in the field of quality infrastructure, noting that standards institutions play a significant role in ensuring product quality, protecting consumer rights, strengthening trade and facilitating exports to international markets.
He added that the Afghanistan Standards and Quality Authority is interested in benefiting from Sri Lanka’s experience in standards development, conformity assessment, certification and strengthening laboratory capacities.
In response, officials of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution pledged to share their technical expertise to enhance the capacities of Afghan staff and facilitate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions in the near future.
It is worth noting that the Afghanistan Standards and Quality Authority has previously held meetings with standards institutions in Russia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan to enhance technical capacities and strengthen standards through expanded international cooperation.
