Egypt Becomes First Arab Nation to Lead ISO Presidency
Khaled Hassan Sofi will be the first Arab and the second African to hold the position since the International Organization for Standardization was founded in 1947.
Egypt’s Khaled Hassan Sofi, chairperson of the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality, has been elected president of the International Organization for Standardization for a three year term from 2026 to 2028. Egypt secured the presidency with 63 votes, ahead of Argentina’s 49. Sofi will be the first Arab and the second African to hold the position since the organisation was founded in 1947. ISO, headquartered in Geneva, develops and publishes international standards that facilitate trade and improve product and service quality. The organisation comprises 174 member countries and operates through more than 800 technical committees across industrial, scientific and service sectors. During his tenure, Sofi plans to prioritise advancing digital transformation, promoting the green economy, and aligning ISO’s initiatives with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt’s Vision 2030.
