UNIDO, EU and Armenia jointly celebrated World Accreditation Day 2024

WAD 2024 theme, “Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future,” highlights the important role of accreditation in ensuring confidence in new technologies, digitalization, and sustainability amid transformative changes in the world. 

The celebration brought together representatives from various stakeholders, including regulatory bodies in the fields of technical regulation, quality infrastructure institutions, accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), the business sector, clients and potential clients of ARMNAB. ARMNAB is the only body that provides accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies in Armenia and ensures the implementation of accreditation process in compliance with international standards.

“Accreditation is very important because it helps build trust in the public sector and among consumers. It also benefits the private sector, which needs finding ways to improve its quality, processes, and infrastructure, and requires a reliable institution for accreditation. In Armenia, that institution is ARMNAB. The European Union is happy to support the overall quality infrastructure in Armenia, and we will continue to do so jointly with our partners,” said Frank Hess, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation in Armenia in his welcome speech.

"Accreditation and conformity assessment ensure that products, services, and procedures meet the strict standards of quality, safety, and reliability. Compliance with these standards is the key to innovation, economic prosperity and sustainable development. On World Accreditation Day, I call on everyone to recognize and appreciate the efforts of all those involved in the accreditation and conformity assessment process," said Araks Kurghinyan, Acting Head of Quality Infrastructure Development Department, RA Ministry of Economy in her speech.

Following the welcome speeches, Ani Obosyan, the Director of ARMNAB, presented role of accreditation in quality infrastructure, reflecting on the current state, legislative field, and regulations. Obosyan stated that to date, ARMNAB has issued accreditations to 86 testing and calibration laboratories, product, management systems, physical persons certification bodies, control performing bodies, and qualification check performing bodies. The conformity assessment documents issued by them ensure the marketing of products and provision of services in Armenia and the international
market.

During the event, speakers including invited partners from the national accreditation bodies of Georgia and Greece, emphasized that by applying national and international standards, governments, regulatory bodies, businesses and society shall have confidence in test results, inspection reports, and certifications.

The WAD 2024 celebration was supported by UNIDO through the project “Support to Quality Infrastructure in Armenia” which is funded by the EU. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of the National Institute of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) to provide sustainable and internationally recognized metrology services. This initiative aligns with Armenia's commitment to implementing the CEPA Agreement with the EU, enhancing trade competitiveness, and maximizing the associated benefits.

For more information, please contact
Cong WU, Project Manager at C.WU@unido.org or
Mane Tapaltsyan, National Project Coordinator at m.tapaltsyan@unido.org