The Federation of Saudi Chambers, represented by the Saudi Numbering Center in Riyadh, organized today, Tuesday, the activities of the "Regional Forum for the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Africa GS1 MEMA," for members of the global numbering organization GS1. It was attended by CEOs of numbering centers, industry leaders, and experts from the region.
In his speech at the forum, the Governor of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, Saad bin Othman Al-Qasabi, emphasized the importance of numbering and classification in tracking the product journey, which is one of the targets of the product safety initiative launched by the organization. He noted "the commitment of Saudi specifications to international standards that lead to the establishment of a common local and global trade route through the application of unified global specifications," indicating that the ability to track products is a crucial tool for preventing poor-quality products, ensuring consumer safety, promoting fair competition, and achieving sustainable economic growth.
For his part, the Chairman of the Saudi Numbering Center, Tariq bin Mohammed Al-Haidari, explained that the center is diligently working to promote the application of international coding standards in the business sector and other sectors in the Kingdom, which will enhance the flow of Saudi products into global markets. He pointed out that the application of GS1 international numbering organization standards has resulted in a qualitative leap in the quality and safety of products, as well as transparency in global supply chains.
Furthermore, the CEO of the GS1 organization, Reinoud Barbou, stated that after 50 years of launching the international barcode system, this system is now used in more than one billion products and serves two million companies globally, with over six billion product scans conducted daily worldwide. He explained that the organization has launched a global initiative to transition from the traditional barcode to the next generation of barcodes, which will provide unprecedented amounts of reliable data to consumers.
It is noteworthy that the forum, which will continue its activities until November 9, will discuss several topics such as: the information system and related auditing of record data accuracy, the development of knowledge centers, the launch of information platforms, the role and impact of GS1 systems application in customs and cross-border trade, innovation and motivation, available components and opportunities, and the elements for developing commercial and food supply chains, especially concerning enabling food security for imported halal products and protecting trademark products, in addition to reviewing the strategic vision for healthcare services.
