Photo : SARSO

DHAKA, June 4, 2026 (BSS) - The 11th Governing Board meeting of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) concluded in the city today with a renewed call for greater regional cooperation to remove technical barriers to trade and harmonize quality standards across South Asia.

The two-day meeting, held on June 3-4 at the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) headquarters, was chaired by SARSO Chairperson and BSTI Director General (Secretary) Kazi Emdadul Hoque, said a press release.

Delegates from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives participated in the meeting both physically and virtually.

During the session, the Governing Board reviewed SARSO's activities and achievements in 2025, approved the report of the Technical Management Board, and finalized the organization's action plan for 2026.

The board also took several important decisions regarding the expansion of SARSO's global partnerships through memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and approved the formation of new Sectorial Technical Committees to strengthen regional standardization efforts.

In his closing remarks, Kazi Emdadul Hoque emphasized the importance of collective action among member states to facilitate regional trade and economic integration through harmonized standards and conformity assessment systems.

He urged all member countries to work together to eliminate technical barriers to trade and enhance quality infrastructure across South Asia, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth and consumer protection in the region.

SARSO serves as the apex regional body for standards and quality cooperation among South Asian countries, promoting the development and harmonization of standards to facilitate trade and strengthen regional competitiveness.

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