IEC launches its first virtual General Meeting

Over 400 participants representing 84 countries are attending the first virtual IEC General Meeting. It consists of 15 sessions taking place between 9 and 20 November.

Participants can register to attend management meetings, thematic workshops and two open sessions to discuss specific IEC work items. The 2020 IEC General Meeting also marks the first GM that Philippe Metzger will attend in his official capacity as IEC General Secretary & CEO.

The move to an exclusively virtual format has been made to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has accelerated the process towards digitalization and the adoption of online tools for businesses around the world, including at the IEC. The 2020 General Meeting provides an opportunity to showcase the seamless transition made to an all-digital environment without hampering IEC core activities or services.

According to IEC President Dr Yinbiao Shu, The IEC has shown strength and leadership throughout 2020. The COVID-19 global pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of cooperation and at this IEC General Meeting we will have the opportunity to share our different experiences and approaches. It is only by working together that we can tackle the current emergency and any others that we may face.

The General Secretary & CEO notes, At the IEC, we are privileged to be able to leverage the unique know-how, insight and knowledge of thousands of experts representing almost every country and industry in the world. The General Meeting will mark an important occasion where we will be able to take stock of the past year and address some of the challenges that the IEC will need to consider in the years ahead.

Topics for the online sessions

The 84th IEC General Meeting will consist of a series of virtual management meetings of the Standardization Management Board, Conformity Assessment Board, Council Board and the Council. Given the time constraints inherent to virtual meetings, the Council session on 13 November 2020 will only address statutory items. To provide members with a forum to learn more about the ongoing governance review and new revenue generating opportunities, the IEC will host two open session on these topics.

Three online sessions will allow developing and newly industrializing countries to learn more about the role of standardization in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the importance of conformity assessment and how to engage stakeholders in the standardization process. These three sessions will include case studies from participants in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The Academy and Capacity Building Day will showcase activities and best practices learned from the past year including stakeholder engagement and training approaches during COVID-19. It will also present its first courses available on the IEC Online Learning Platform. Information, including registration, is available on the IEC General Meeting 2020 website.

LINK:	https://www.iec.ch/blog/iec-launches-its-first-virtual-general-meeting...
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