- IQ President Ben Williams and NSI CEO Nahayan Alteneiji signed a strategic MoU at the National Stone Centre, Derbyshire
- The MoU paves the way for launching an IQ branch in the UAE to enhance safety, education, and professional excellence in quarrying
- NSI delegation’s one-day visit showcased mutual commitment, with support from IQ Vice President Javier Muñoz playing a key facilitative role
The President of the Institute of Quarrying (IQ), Ben Williams, recently hosted distinguished delegates of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) National Safety Institute (NSI) at the National Stone Centre (NSC) in Derbyshire, a major milestone for international co-operation for the quarrying and extractives industries.
The NSI visiting team were: Nahayan Alteneiji (chief executive officer); Dr Kamal Saleh (chief operating officer); Ghazanfar Imran (chief financial officer); and Ageel Bishara (executive office manager).
The visit ended in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being signed between IQ President Mr Williams and NSI CEO Nahayan Alteneiji. The agreement lays the platform for establishing an IQ branch in the UAE to develop professional excellence, improve safety measures, and pursue educational excellence throughout the extractives sector in the region.
Emphasizing the significance of this new relationship, the NSI officials proved their dedication by traveling to and from on the same day, showing their eagerness to establish strong bonds with the IQ and foster the development of a lively professional community in the UAE.
During their visit, the NSI team received a comprehensive presentation from Mr Williams on the Institute of Quarrying’s century-long legacy, its mission, and its vision for the future, including the development of the new Centre of Excellence at the NSC site.
The visitors were taken on a tour by the IQ President of the Millennium Wall, the M1 Quarry, and other major aspects of the NSC site, having discussions regarding potential cultural input to the walls and cooperative possibilities in training and education in the future.
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Mr Williams said: 'The NSI visit was a stark reminder of the international significance of our work. We were delighted to share our heritage and aspirations, and we are looking forward to the possibilities of this partnership bringing our educational programs, like the Diploma in Surface Mining Explosives Engineering, to an even broader global population'.
The collaboration was facilitated by the efforts of Javier Muñoz, IQ Honorary Vice President and Asia Pacific region head of training and education at EPC Groupe, whose activities in the UAE were key in establishing bridges between the two parties.
"This partnership is a reflection of the mutual values of safety, education, and professional excellence, which both NSI and IQ share", added Mr Munoz. 'It's a privilege to be able to unite our communities and pave the way for a prosperous IQ presence in the UAE.
James Thorne, IQ's chief executive officer, said: 'We were pleased to welcome NSI to the National Stone Centre. Their dedication to promoting safety and professional standards is something we share and look forward to helping them on their path to building a robust IQ branch in the UAE.
