Vietnam Certification Center (QUACERT) joined the delegation of the Commission for Standards, Metrology, and Quality (STAMEQ), accompanying Minister of Science and Technology - Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat on the Prime Minister’s official visit to the Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The Vietnamese delegation held meetings with the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) on October 29, 2024.
Meeting with the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT)

MoIAT Undersecretary Omar Al Suwaidi expressed his pleasure in welcoming Minister Huynh Thanh Dat, along with leaders from STAMEQ, the Ministry’s Department of International Cooperation, and QUACERT, to the UAE. During the meeting, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat entrusted STAMEQ to collaborate with MoIAT on a concrete plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 between the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and MoIAT. This partnership focuses on a new pillar of international economic cooperation—developing the Halal sector—following the declaration by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the International Halal Conference held in Hanoi on October 22, 2024, co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MOST, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Mr. Omar Al Suwaidi, Deputy Minister of MoIAT (second from the left), Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of MOST (third from the left), and Mr. Tran Quoc Dung, Director of QUACERT (far right) during the meeting.

Based on the 2023 MoU on standards and quality cooperation, both sides pledged to strengthen cooperation activities, particularly in the Halal sector. In talks with the UAE delegation, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat highlighted the strong, mutually supportive relationship between the two countries, expressing hope that the UAE would provide technical support for the National Halal Certification Center (HALCERT), under QUACERT and STAMEQ of Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology. The collaboration aligns with MoIAT's role as the regulatory body overseeing Halal certification activities in the UAE.

At the close of the meeting, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat extended an invitation, hoping to welcome MoIAT’s leadership to visit the Ministry of Science and Technology in Vietnam in the near future.

The Minister of MOST and Mr. Ha Minh Hiep, Acting President of STAMEQ (second from the right), along with other delegates, take a commemorative photo.

Signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)
In the afternoon of October 29, 2024, at SASO’s headquarters, a formal signing ceremony took place for the Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCP) between representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality (STAMEQ), and SASO, witnessed by Minister of MOST – Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat.

Overviews of the bilateral meeting at SASO’s headquarter(Source: SASO)

During the bilateral meeting at SASO’s headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat proposed that SASO collaborate with STAMEQ to develop standards and expertise in Halal testing and certification, as well as to strengthen the capabilities of the National Halal Certification Center (HALCERT). Dr. Saad bin Othman Al-Qasabi, President of SASO, agreed with the Vietnamese Minister’s proposals and committed to working closely with STAMEQ on priority areas such as expert exchanges, information sharing, and training in standards, testing, and conformity certification in the Halal sector, including digital platform certification.

On behalf of SASO, Mr. Saad Alkasabi expressed his hope that STAMEQ and SASO will support each other to deepen and enhance the effectiveness of their collaboration in the above-mentioned areas. He also commended Vietnam’s timely and substantive steps to develop its national quality infrastructure for the Halal sector, noting that this field holds significant potential for bilateral and global cooperation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, STAMEQ successfully signed the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) with SASO. Under this TCP, the two parties plan to collaborate in the following areas: (i) standards and standards training; (ii) conformity assessment; (iii) legal and industrial metrology; (iv) testing and laboratories; (v) calibration; (vi) information exchange and mutual recognition among conformity assessment bodies; (vii) digital transformation in quality infrastructure; (viii) professional exchange, delegation visits, and workforce training; (ix) cooperation in the Halal industry; and (x) promoting stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Ha Minh Hiep and Mr. Saud Alaska, Vice President of Conformity Assessment at SASO, sign the TCP under the witness of Minister Huynh Thanh Dat and Dr. Saad Bin Othman Al-Qasabi, President of SASO (Source: SASO).

Both parties believe that the signing of this agreement on this special occasion will provide a foundation for STAMEQ and SASO to implement practical cooperation activities in the near future, making a positive contribution to the friendly relations between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

Leaders of STAMEQ and SASO take a commemorative photo

Visit to the Vietnam’s booth at the Halal Expo

During the mission, the delegation visited the Vietnam’s booth hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy at the Saudi Arabia Halal Expo. At the event, the delegation supported the Embassy in sharing information about Vietnam's emerging Halal ecosystem, highlighting its potential and outlining cooperation strategies to bring Vietnamese Halal products to the global market, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.

The Vietnamese delegation visits the Vietnam’s booth at the Saudi Arabia Halal Expo

Quoc Dung, Hong Quan – Vietnam Certification Center (QUACERT)