IAPMO Group Indonesia Promotes Innovation and Fair Market Competition at APEC Forum
JAKARTA, October 22-23, 2026 – PT IAPMO Group Indonesia has reinforced its strategic role in advancing quality infrastructure and improving the Ease of Doing Business across the Asia-Pacific region. Serving as a featured speaker at the Workshop on Improving Ease of Doing Business in APEC: Market Competition, Shirley Dewi, representing PT IAPMO Group Indonesia, highlighted the pivotal role international standards play in driving innovation while safeguarding public health and safety.
The workshop convened regulators, technical experts, and industry leaders from APEC member economies. During Session 4, titled "From Innovation Support to Innovation Outcomes," IAPMO shared key insights into how international standards and conformity assessment serve as fundamental pillars for modern economic growth.
International Standards: A Foundation for Innovation, Not a Barrier
In her address, Shirley Dewi emphasized that effective technical regulation and public protection are complementary goals. International standards such as those developed by ISO, IEC, ASTM, and Indonesia’s national standards framework (SNI) provide a collaborative platform that guarantees product quality and safety without constraining industrial creativity.
"Performance-based standards offer manufacturers the flexibility to design diverse, innovative solutions as long as the core safety and performance criteria are met," Dewi stated. She noted that standards establish a solid foundation for innovators to build upon, rather than setting a ceiling on what they can achieve.
Transforming Compliance into Competitive Advantage
A central theme of the presentation was changing the perspective surrounding product certification. While compliance with technical regulations is sometimes viewed as an administrative burden, IAPMO demonstrated that independent testing and certification serve as powerful tools to build trust among consumers, regulators, and commercial partners.
For Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), consistent technical requirements offer clear guidance to elevate product quality and access international supply chains. Certification enables businesses to compete fairly on the merits of quality, performance, and innovation, rather than navigating regulatory uncertainty.
Protecting Innovation from Counterfeit and Non-Compliant Products
Innovation cannot thrive when compliant businesses are forced to compete against counterfeit or non-compliant goods. False compliance claims and counterfeit certification marks unfairly undercut legitimate manufacturers who invest heavily in research, testing, and quality control, while also placing consumer safety at risk.
To address this challenge, robust market surveillance, product traceability, certification verification, and active enforcement are essential to maintaining market integrity throughout APEC economies.
Case Study: Implementing the SNI Faucet Standard in Indonesia
Indonesia offers a prime example of successfully incorporating international standards into national regulatory systems. The implementation of SNI 122:2022 (Faucets for Sanitary Purposes) showcases effective collaboration among government agencies, industry stakeholders, and conformity assessment bodies like PT IAPMO Group Indonesia.
This national success aligns closely with the APEC Roadmap for Strengthening Plumbing Standards and Technical Regulations, providing a scalable model for expanding standardized plumbing frameworks across the region.
Four Practical Priorities for APEC Economies
To conclude the session, IAPMO outlined four practical priorities for APEC member economies to enhance the business environment and strengthen market competition:
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Adopt and Align: Utilize international standards as the technical foundation for transparent, predictable regulations.
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Keep Pace with Innovation: Regularly review and update standards to reflect technological advancements and emerging research.
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Support Business Participation: Expand access to testing, certification, and technical assistance, particularly for SMEs.
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Strengthen Market Integrity: Enhance market surveillance, verification systems, and regional cooperation against non-compliant and counterfeit products.
By pairing strong standards with effective regulation, APEC economies can foster a secure, competitive, and highly innovative marketplace.