Spanish
The Dominican Republic becomes the epicenter of quality for the entire continent with the inauguration of the 34th General Assembly of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), which brings together experts and authorities from more than 26 countries.
The event, which takes place from August 17 to 22 in Santo Domingo, is organized by the Dominican Accreditation Body (ODAC) and marks a milestone for the international projection of the country in terms of accreditation and competitiveness.
The opening ceremony was attended by the executive director of ODAC, Ángel David Taveras Difo; the president of IAAC, Andrea Melo; the vice minister of Industrial Development of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), Gianna Franjul; and the executive director of the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), Néstor Matos, along with national and international representatives from the quality and accreditation sector.
In his speech, Taveras Difo highlighted that with this event the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting accreditation as a strategic tool for economic development, market opening, and continuous improvement.
"This assembly not only marks a milestone in our national quality agenda, but also opens a door for dialogue, collaboration, and shared commitment to the sustainable development of our nation," highlighted the executive director.
For her part, the president of IAAC, Andrea Melo, highlighted that the cultural, economic, and geographic diversity of the region is a strength that allows for building trust and breaking down barriers. "From IAAC, we reaffirm our commitment to continue promoting an inclusive, reliable, and connected accreditation infrastructure that promotes quality, social well-being, and sustainability throughout the Americas," she expressed.
Meanwhile, Vice Minister Gianna Franjul stated that accreditation is a key driver for competitiveness, innovation, and the country's development. "From the MICM, we remain committed to working with ODAC and IAAC so that our companies, especially SMEs, have greater access to international markets and contribute to sustainable economic growth," she concluded.
For six days, the Assembly's agenda includes technical sessions, specialized workshops, and high-level forums, with the purpose of promoting the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and best practices in conformity assessment and accreditation.
One of the most relevant points will be the First Business Meeting on Conformity Assessment, Accreditation, Industry and Government, which will be held on August 21st under the theme "Circular Economy and Market Opening". This forum will seek to align strategies between the private sector, industry and government to promote sustainability, innovation and expansion into new international markets.
The 34th General Assembly of IAAC consolidates the Dominican Republic as a regional benchmark in accreditation and quality, strengthening technical cooperation and the policies that promote sustainable economic development and competitiveness in the Americas.
About the ODAC:
The Dominican Accreditation Body is the entity responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies in the Dominican Republic. This includes laboratories, inspection entities, and certification bodies that verify the quality and safety of products, services, and systems.
About IAAC:
The Interamerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) is the regional association of accreditation bodies and other organizations interested in conformity assessment in the Americas. Its main objective is to promote the regional and international acceptance of accreditations granted by its members, as well as of the certificates and results issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies.
