Recap Day 1

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The ISO Annual Meeting 2026 gets under way today in Paris, bringing together voices from business, government, civil society and the standards community around a shared theme: “Building trust in a changing world”. Over the next five days, participants in Paris and online will exchange ideas, confront today’s most pressing challenges and explore how International Standards can turn common ambitions into meaningful action. Follow this page for highlights, insights and memorable moments from across the event – as they happen.

And we’re off!

The ISO Annual Meeting 2026 is officially under way – and its opening press conference wasted no time in tackling the big questions ahead. How do we build trust when the world is changing so fast? Leaders from ISO, UNDP and AFNOR set the tone for a week of bold ideas, lively debate and collective action.

First in the spotlight: the launch of ISO/UNDP 53001, a groundbreaking new standard designed to help organizations turn sustainable development commitments into measurable action. The floor then opened to journalists, whose questions kept the conversation – and the energy in the room – flowing.

ISO is really a key player in a number of situations to improve trust.

Olivier Peyrat, CEO, AFNOR

A world first for the SDGs

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a new ally, and it made its debut in Paris today. Developed by ISO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ISO/UNDP 53001 is the world’s first International Standard to provide a management system for contributing to the Goals. It gives organizations a practical way to bring sustainable development into strategy, decision-making and operations – and track their progress over time.

ISO/UNDP 53001:2026

Management systems for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — Requirements

ISO/UNDP 53001 will help companies and governments to operationalize the business model, which should then create better disclosure and better lives for people.

Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support

From left: **Dr Khaled Soufi**, ISO President; **Sergio Mujica**, ISO Secretary-General; **Marcos Neto**, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP; and **Olivier Peyrat**, CEO, AFNOR.

Sixty years... and looking ahead

This year’s DEVCO plenary, the annual gathering of ISO’s Committee on developing country matters, marked a significant milestone, as the committee celebrated 60 years of collaboration supporting developing countries in standardization. In an informal exchange with DEVCO Chair Elhadji Abdourahmane Ndione, ISO President Dr Khaled Soufi reflected on his journey in standardization, his hopes for ISO’s future and the barriers that still limit developing countries’ participation in standards development. With the ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2026–2030 now in effect, the anniversary was a chance to look ahead as well as celebrate how far the committee has come.

Sixty years of DEVCO and plenty to talk about. ISO President **Dr Khaled Soufi** (left) joins DEVCO Chair **Elhadji Abdourahmane Ndione** for a conversation about the future of developing countries in standards.

Shaping DEVCO’s future

The afternoon put members’ ideas to work. In lively roundtable discussions, participants explored the challenges facing developing countries and where DEVCO could make the greatest difference. Their feedback will help shape the committee’s priorities and partnerships for the years ahead – giving members a direct hand in what comes next.

Trust takes shape in Paris

The City of Light provided the perfect setting as Dr Khaled Soufi opened the ISO Annual Meeting 2026 – his first as ISO President. Welcoming the global standards community to Paris, he brought the theme of the week into sharp focus: “Trust is no longer assumed – it must be built, proven and sustained over time.”

This was followed by welcome messages from distinguished speakers, including AFNOR President Guy Maugis and Éléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate for Francophonie. Their words gave the week’s message a wider resonance, evoking the trust that grows when countries bring their knowledge and ambitions to a common table.

Multilateralism is more needed than ever.

Olivier Peyrat, CEO, AFNOR

Dance brought that spirit vividly to life. Anastasia Vilanova’s choreography opened the evening with a powerful, contemporary response to a changing world. Murmuration then brought the ceremony towards a dazzling finale – 27 dancers moving in hypnotic unison – before drawing the audience into the performance.

For host AFNOR, ISO’s member for France, celebrating its centenary this year, it was a particularly memorable event.

Standards seen
differently

What will standards look like tomorrow? In the Digital Hub, participants got to explore the answer for themselves. Live demonstrations followed a standard from the experts developing it to the people using its content, while polls and member experiences kept the conversation grounded in what works today – and what still needs to improve. The journey then turned to the digital services helping ISO members move forward at their own pace.