In a milestone for Egypt and the Arab world, Khaled Hassan Soughy, Chairman of the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS), has been elected President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) — winning 63 votes to Argentina’s 49. He will serve a three-year term from 2026 to 2028, becoming the first Arab and second African to lead the organization since its founding in 1947.
Soughy described the victory as “a remarkable national achievement that reflects President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s vision to improve the quality of life for Egyptians and enhance service standards.” He credited the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, whose ministry spearheaded Egypt’s campaign to empower national institutions on the global stage.
The ISO presidency, regarded as one of the world’s most influential standard-setting roles, positions Egypt at the forefront of international policy shaping in sustainability, trade regulation, and digital transformation. With 174 member countries, ISO defines the benchmarks for product safety, environmental management, and industrial quality across global markets.
Experts say Soughy’s leadership could align ISO’s future initiatives with Egypt’s Vision 2030, particularly in areas such as green industry, circular economy, and quality infrastructure modernization. Dr. Hossam Abdel Meguid, an international trade consultant, told The Middle East Observer that Egypt’s win “cements its status as a regional leader in industrial governance and gives it a stronger voice in global competitiveness frameworks.”
Behind the scenes, Egypt’s campaign relied on months of diplomacy with African, Arab, and developing nations, emphasizing Cairo’s experience in harmonizing national standards with international norms. According to internal EOS sources, Egypt’s delegation focused on promoting “South-South cooperation in standardization” — an approach that resonated strongly with developing economies.
“This victory underscores Egypt’s strong presence in international forums and reaffirms its leadership in advancing quality and sustainability policies worldwide,” Soughy said.
As he prepares to assume the presidency in January 2026, Soughy’s agenda is expected to prioritize digital quality systems, sustainable industrial growth, and greater representation of emerging economies within ISO — signaling a new era of inclusive global standardization led from Cairo.
