Jakarta, Indonesia — In a special ceremony conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia, the National Standardization Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (commonly referred to as BSN – Badan Standardisasi Nasional) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) agreed upon a cooperative arrangement that will enhance the ability of both organizations to support the needs of the Indonesian people, continue growth of the Indonesian economy and aid in the development of Indonesian national standards for health, safety and the environment.
“With this agreement, two strong organizations become even stronger through the open sharing of knowledge, resources and ideals,” said IAPMO Executive Director GP Russ Chaney. “But more importantly, the people these organizations serve will be the true beneficiaries of this union.”
BSN Chairman Iman Sudarwo and IAPMO Senior Director Allen Inlow conducted the formal signing Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. The event was attended by an enthusiastic audience of approximately 80 people, including Benyamin Lakitan, the secretary general of the Indonesian State Ministry for Research and Technology, and John A. Heffern, deputy chief of mission, Embassy of the United States of America, each of whom served as witness to the signing. Also in attendance were representatives of educational institutions, trade associations, manufacturers, the U.S. Commercial Center of the Embassy and many other Ministries of the Indonesian government.
“This agreement will allow BSN to improve our already good service to all of our stakeholders, and by sharing our experience with that of IAPMO in codes and standards, particularly the Uniform Plumbing Code which is a priority, Indonesia will truly build to world class standards and enhance our competitiveness in the world market,” stated Chairman Sudarwo at the ceremony.
He went on to note that the agreement:
• Promotes communication between the two organizations
• Avoids duplication of work efforts
• Promotes knowledge of the standards development activities of each organization
• Utilizes the resources of IAPMO to strengthen the Indonesian National Standardization system
• Promotes greater Indonesian input and content into IAPMO standards through greater Indonesian participation on IAPMO Technical Committees
• Promotes the acceptance and use of IAPMO standards in Indonesia
Embassy Deputy Chief Heffern commented, “This agreement speaks well of the cooperation between the people of the two nations and both shall benefit from the sharing of knowledge and resources. I am proud of the small part the Embassy staff played in assisting this agreement come together, and I look forward to seeing the tangible benefits that will result.”
This signing represents for IAPMO another in a recent series of cooperative efforts with international government entities. The association previously assisted in the development of a Uniform Potable Water Plumbing Code for the State of Kuwait, will formally unveil next month the Uniform Plumbing Code – India, and will soon collaborate with the Kingdom of Jordan in developing its own Uniform Plumbing Code.
Last modified: February 1, 2008