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LINKING PEOPLE, JOINING NATIONS
Granjon was to enlarge on these proposals. ‘The extension of the list of member
countries of IIW all over the world led the Governing Council in 1986 to lay the foundation
of a “regional” structure making possible coordination on a wider scale and more active
participation in the development of welding within the framework of regions containing
several member countries – and future members – which are defined primarily as a function
of geographical and linguistic considerations, rather than politics or economics. Preparations
are presently being made to set up “Regional Technical Commissions” which in liaison with
parent Commissions, and if necessary with the support of Sub-Commissions, will make
their own contribution to the work. The organisation of “Regional IIW Congresses” is also
envisaged; these will be organised in accordance with their own procedures.’
4
Conscious of the cost involved in the development of regional interest
groups the Secretary General of IIW, Mr John Hicks, was quick to explain
the role of IIW with respect to financial support. He was to indicate that
‘… it is hoped that the authority of IIW will enable countries in the need
of funds to make approaches to international agencies to ensure that they
can implement the appropriate scheme’.
5
However little was done to build
relationships with UNIDO at first. In this respect a deputation consisting of
the IIW President at that time, Mr Raül Timerman (Argentina), Hicks and
Smallbone representing the IIW regional working group, now known as the
Working Group
Regional Activities and Liaison with Developing Countries
(WG-RA), visited UNIDO in 1994 to discuss possible means of collaboration
in the funding of developing countries, particularly on the basis of
supporting bilateral projects such as the IIW proposed qualification scheme.
6
This visit was quite successful with UNIDO expressing interest in assisting IIW
in developing proposals and also in entering into a cooperative agreement in transferring
welding technology to countries in Africa. In doing so the Director General of UNIDO, Mr
Mauricio de Mario y Campos, said that ‘given the international importance of IIW in all
welding activities, not the least the establishment of the relevant ISO standards, and for the
certification of welders and welding inspectors, I am confident that the above arrangement
could make a very important contribution to the progress of welding in the developing
countries of Africa’.
7
A proposal aimed at uplifting welding technology in selected countries
on the African continent was subsequently prepared and submitted for funding through
sponsorship with UNIDO for implementation in July 1994.
8
Unfortunately, this promising
development did not go ahead but later was a forerunner to efforts to provide funding to
countries in south-east Europe and elsewhere.
The first regional IIW International Congress in 1988 was an unmitigated success.
It was held in the historic colonial port of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and attracted some
300 participants from 34 countries, eight of which were non-member developing countries