South Sudan Eyes Stronger Standards Infrastructure Through ISO

(JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN) – South Sudan is strengthening its engagement with the international standards community through the participation of the Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards, Hon. Oiylang Dominic Kanuto, at the International Organization for Standardization General Assembly in Paris, France.

The assembly, hosted by the French Association for Standardization (AFNOR), is being held under the theme “Building Trust in a Changing World.”

The event brings together standards authorities, policymakers, industry leaders and private sector representatives from around the world to discuss the role of international standards in promoting quality, safety, innovation and sustainable development.

According to SSNBS, Kanuto is using the forum to engage with officials from ISO, the African Organisation for Standardisation and private sector stakeholders to exchange experiences, strengthen professional networks and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The bureau said the engagement provides South Sudan with an important platform to learn from global best practices while building strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening the country’s standards infrastructure and improving its integration into regional and international markets.

Participation in the gathering also reflects South Sudan’s commitment to fostering international cooperation and enhancing confidence in its quality assurance and standardisation systems.

SSNBS noted that strengthening standards institutions is critical to supporting trade, protecting consumers and promoting economic growth. The bureau added that engagement with global partners remains essential to achieving these objectives.

The bureau described the participation as a significant step in advancing South Sudan’s presence within the global standards community and contributing to efforts aimed at building trust, connections and a stronger nation.

The ISO Annual Meeting 2026 is taking place from 28th September to 2nd October in Paris, hosted by AFNOR at the CNIT in La Défense. The event has drawn more than 2,000 registered participants, with about 800 attending in person. Representatives from 144 national standards bodies are registered, of which 137 plan to attend in person.

The programme is organised around three main areas: People and Planet, Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, and Trade and Development. Sessions will address issues including water resilience, climate adaptation, cybersecurity, emerging artificial intelligence trends, resilient trade and digital product passports.

ISO President Dr Khaled Soufi said the Annual Meeting would bring together diverse perspectives from across the international standards community to explore how trust can be strengthened across economies, institutions and societies.

“Trust is fundamental to how people, organizations and governments work together, yet it is being tested across many areas of public and economic life,” Dr Soufi said. “International Standards provide shared frameworks that help turn principles into consistent practice. They enable organizations to demonstrate quality, safety, integrity and accountability, creating confidence across borders, sectors and supply chains.”

AFNOR CEO Olivier Peyrat highlighted the significance of welcoming the global standards community to France. “At a time of rapid change, building trust and reinforcing collective resilience requires cooperation across institutions, industries and national borders,” Peyrat said.

ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica said the Annual Meeting would focus on translating global priorities into practical action through standards.

“Each year, the ISO Annual Meeting gives our community the opportunity to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on the solutions that can be developed, adopted and scaled,” Mujica said.

Kanuto’s participation follows his appointment as Executive Director of SSNBS in March 2026, succeeding Hon. Gloria Nyoka Joseph who served in the role for two years.

During the handover ceremony, Kanuto emphasised the bureau’s mandate in developing national standards, consumer protection, trade facilitation and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure efficient and effective service delivery, calling on SSNBS staff to support him. “We must work as a team to build a strong institution,” he said.