Cement Energy and Environment

34TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ISO -INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY PROF. K. V. THOMAS, HON'BLE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, GOVT OF INDIA "I have great pleasure in associating myself with the 34th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization. At the outset let me extend a hearty welcome to all the delegates from around 125 countries who are participating in this Assembly which is of great significance in furthering the cause of standardization across the world. India is a 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 organization of this Assembly is happily coincidi ng with the ISO General Assembly week which is being observed from 19 1 h to 24th September 2011. Standardization of variety is part and parcel of the creation. Human civilization in all its marvellous demonstrate manifestations the inalienable process of standardization which gave shape and meaning to them. We are familiar with the fact that after the Second World War standardization of goods and services acquired global significance. Therefore 25 countries of the world came together and took a decision to establish an international organization to unify international standards. As a result the International Standards Organization 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 standardization 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 standardization acquired greater currency in such an integrated market. Of late, the import of standardization has been realized 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 standardization 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 of 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 epicenter of world economy is irreversible shifting to this part of the globe. With the unleash ing 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 of standardized 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 standardized 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.