Phnom penh: The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI) today hosted World Accreditation Day 2026 under the theme, 'Innovation, Trust and Sustainability: The Power of Accreditation,' to raise awareness of the role of accreditation and conformity assessment in advancing innovation, strengthening market confidence, and supporting sustainable development.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, World Accreditation Day 2026 was initiated by Global ACI, a new global organization formed through the merger of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This initiative aims to promote awareness of the importance of accreditation and conformity assessment in ensuring the quality, safety, and competitiveness of goods and services in domestic and international markets.
Accreditation provides the foundation for the recognition of testing, inspection, certification, verification, and validation results. It helps reduce technical barriers to trade and supports the implementation of mutual recognition arrangements based on the principle of 'tested once, accepted everywhere.'
Speaking at the event, Minister Hem Vanndy, Chairman of the National Accreditation Council of Cambodia, emphasized that accreditation serves as a strategic tool in the digital economy and Industry 4.0. It supports effective regulatory and technical functions, enables innovation, strengthens market confidence, and advances sustainability and green development.
Minister Vanndy also noted that market confidence is built on a National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) system founded on the 3C approach: Competency, Compliance, and Confidence. This framework ensures that products and services meet quality and safety requirements and can compete in international markets.
He highlighted that the Ministry is leading efforts to strengthen Cambodia's National Quality Infrastructure through the implementation of the Roadmap for Standards, Technical Regulations, and Conformity Assessment Procedures (STRACAP), as well as the development of an NQI Policy. These initiatives aim to strengthen the capacity of laboratories, standards bodies, metrology institutions, and conformity assessment bodies to achieve international recognition and support Cambodia's trade and investment.
World Accreditation Day 2026 brought together representatives from ministries and institutions serving on the National Accreditation Council of Cambodia, MISTI leaders, conformity assessment bodies, laboratories, private-sector representatives, small and medium-sized enterprises, and relevant stakeholders.