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Highlights from Day 1
Key moments from the ISO Annual Meeting 2024’s opening day.
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ISO Annual Meeting 2024 kicks off with a call to break boundaries
This year’s ISO Annual Meeting opened in Cartagena, Colombia, with a focus on global cooperation, sustainable development and inclusivity in international standardization. The theme of “Breaking boundaries” reflects the necessity to overcome challenges that transcend borders, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and technological advancements.
The Opening Ceremony featured prominent speakers, including Luis Carlos Reyes Hernandez, Colombian Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Hector Arango, President of ICONTEC, and ISO leaders. All agreed that these are uncertain times that call for new approaches and ideas, boldness and innovation.
The “Breaking boundaries” theme is woven throughout this year’s annual meeting programme. It reminds us to defy conventions and harness diverse viewpoints for lasting, transformative change. Through this lens, the week ahead will focus on the central topics of sustainability, AI and human capital – because ISO wants to remain a human-centric organization.
Here are a few highlights from the event:
Opening the Annual Meeting, ISO President Dr Sung Hwan Cho called on participants to embrace the opportunity that the week presents:
As we embark on this year’s Annual Meeting, I invite each one of you to infuse your discussions with enthusiasm, energy and innovation. To embrace diverse perspectives and explore alternative solutions. Dare to be bold and break boundaries to inspire transformative change.
Of the decision to host this year’s meeting in Cartagena, Dr Luis Carlos Reyes Hernandez, Colombian Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, said:
It’s good and proper that we will be having this conversation about International Standards from the Global South, from a developing country that needs to be heard… as part of a global community of equals.
Hector Arango, President of ICONTEC, highlighted the importance of standards in ensuring quality and improving people’s lives:
Standards emerge as a powerful tool for improving quality of life… [they] guarantee that the products and services we use meet the highest level of quality and security, protecting consumers and building trust in markets.
ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica brought the theme full circle, highlighting the need to continue innovating, and even taking risks, to ensure we can respond to the world’s most pressing challenges.
The world is changing at an incredible pace, and if we want to remain relevant, we need to challenge the status quo and the business-as-usual approach. We need to embrace diversity, new approaches and innovation. Breaking boundaries is not a place to arrive. It’s a mindset, it’s an attitude, it’s a way to travel.
Breaking boundaries for a better world
Monday’s session “Breaking boundaries for a better world” aimed to spark positive change and inspire bold commitment, propelling ISO towards its 2030 vision. The workshop featured novel activities such as collaborative games and speed dating, all led by dynamic young facilitators. Attendees, energized by their interactions, were challenged to make an immediate commitment to engaging in ISO’s strategic projects and programmes.
Today’s session aims to spark positive change. I hope it will encourage bold commitments from all of you in order to achieve our shared ISO vision.
Towards a diverse, inclusive and fair world
At the 58th annual meeting of the ISO Committee for developing country matters (DEVCO), members came together with a bold vision: to “break boundaries” and redefine how International Standards can drive transformative progress in an increasingly complex world. Against a backdrop of escalating challenges – from climate crisis to technological advancements and widening socioeconomic divides – DEVCO’s mission to empower developing countries has never been more vital.
In his opening speech, ISO President Dr Sung Hwan Cho focused on three key ways DEVCO’s work can address these challenges, setting the stage for discussions to follow.
- The active participation of developing countries helps break boundaries and bring fresh perspectives to the ISO system.
- ISO brings together diverse voices from around the world to create solutions that are universally relevant and impactful.
- DEVCO enables developing countries to tap into a vast reservoir of knowledge and expertise that the ISO system possesses.
DEVCO’s mission to support developing countries and increase their participation in the standards arena is driven by ISO members. Reinforcing this, the President challenged members to step up their contributions as a means of extending DEVCO’s capacity building work. The path forward is clear: Only by committing collectively to active change can we create a future where sustainable development and shared prosperity are not just ideals, but a reality for all.
A new plan of action
An essential part of the meeting was gathering feedback on the next Action Plan for developing countries (APDC), aimed at empowering all members to actively shape the future of the ISO system. This Plan is about more than just participation – it’s about unleashing the full potential of International Standards to drive inclusive growth and innovation worldwide. With the introduction this year of a new workshop, held in the wake of the plenary session, DEVCO opened up fresh opportunities for members to engage, collaborate and make their voices heard. The insights collected will lay the groundwork for the APDC 2026-2030.
Explore more highlights from the event:
ISO Annual Meeting 2024 Live
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