Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation, A.C.
Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation, A.C.
November 13, 2025
The Quality Infrastructure Council of the Americas (QICA) and the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) successfully celebrated the World Quality Day 2025 Webinar, under the theme “Quality Infrastructure to Support Trade and the Economic Development of Countries.”
The event brought together more than 1,200 participants from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and for the first time included high-level government representatives from several Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as the leadership of international and regional organizations such as ILAC, IAF, ISO/CASCO, BIPM, COPANT, SIM, QICA, PAQI, and EQIN.
The meeting aimed to:
Highlight how quality infrastructure drives trade, competitiveness, and sustainable economic development.
Bring together policy leaders and international organizations to discuss the impact of quality on public policy and markets.
Compare experiences across the Americas, Europe, and Africa on the role of quality infrastructure as a driver of trust and international cooperation.
Unprecedented Political Dialogue
In Panel 1, moderated by Andrea Melo, IAAC Chair, Gianna Franjul Rivera, Vice Minister of Industrial Development of the Dominican Republic, and Andrés Ernesto Robalino Jaramillo, Vice Minister of Production and Industries of Ecuador, emphasized the strategic value of quality infrastructure in shaping industrial, trade, and productive development policies.
A Consolidated Global Vision
Panel 2, moderated by Warren Merkel, IAAC Vice Chair, featured Etty Feller (ILAC Chair), Cristina Draghici (Executive Director, Consumer Coordination and Support, ISO/CASCO), and Anna Cypionka (Director, International Liaison and Communication Department, BIPM).
Speakers highlighted that metrology, standardization, and accreditation are essential pillars for market access, international confidence, and trade facilitation.
Regional Leadership in Quality
Panel 3, moderated by María Isabel López, ILAC Vice Chair, brought together Andrea Melo (IAAC President), Mauricio Cépeda (COPANT Chair), and Javier A. Arias Real (SIM Chair).
Regional leaders reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts supporting countries in the Americas in strengthening technical and regulatory capacities and promoting an integrated and strategic quality infrastructure.
Intercontinental Perspective
Panel 4, moderated by Paola Mársico, ILAC Development Support Committee Chair, featured Kory Eguino (Executive Secretary, Quality Infrastructure Council of the Americas – QICA), Susan Munyiri Ochieng (Representative, Pan-African Quality Infrastructure – PAQI), and Ma Dolores del Campo Maldonado (President, European Quality Infrastructure Network – EQIN).
The panelists shared key lessons on harmonization of standards, regional cooperation, and trade integration, highlighting opportunities for collaboration across continents.
Renewed Commitment
The event concluded with closing remarks by Andrea Melo, IAAC Chair, who emphasized the commitment of IAAC and QICA to continue fostering regional and global cooperation in quality infrastructure.
Participants agreed on the need to strengthen national quality infrastructures to build more competitive, resilient, and inclusive economies.
The celebration of World Quality Day 2025 delivered a clear message:
Quality infrastructure is a strategic tool to develop more competitive economies, open markets, foster innovation, and build trust in international trade.
IAAC and QICA express their appreciation to all participating institutions and speakers for their commitment and leadership in building a strong, integrated, and development-oriented quality infrastructure.
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