Underlining its commitment to enhancing the quality of light and life for UAE citizens, GE Lighting has received the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) certification for its products in the UAE, becoming one of the first lighting suppliers to receive this prestigious citation. The ESMA certification assures that GE Lighting supplies only high-quality indoor lighting products that meet the UAE's stringent requirements of electrical safety, energy efficiency, functionality and limitation on hazardous chemicals content. GE Lighting had stopped all imports of lighting solutions until its portfolio of products received the ESMA certification. As part of the UAE government long-term vision to promote sustainable development, the UAE announced the implementation of a series of regulations through ESMA last year, to make a shift towards efficient lighting solutions. This included restrictions on the import of incandescent bulbs to the UAE for use in residential areas as well as prohibition of sales. This is poised to scale up the sale and usage of LED lighting solutions in the country, a technology that GE pioneered. Manoj Jayachandran, Distribution Sales General Manager, GE Lighting MENAT, said: “As one of the first lighting suppliers to have secured all the required ESMA certifications, GE Lighting is working with our partners on educating them about the new decree and assisting them in managing their inventory. This includes upgrading their lighting products to meet the UAE's Residential Lighting Regulation based on environmental, safety and efficiency criteria. “The ESMA certification underlines our commitment, as the pioneers in LED lighting, to supporting the green vision of the UAE government and ESMA's mission of advancing the quality of life and sustainable development. Our product portfolio meets the energy efficiency targets of the UAE to help customers reduce energy consumption and limit carbon dioxide emissions for a greener environment.” With benefits including up to 90 percent energy-cost savings, a long useful life of up to 50,000 hours, minimized maintenance and related costs, excellent low temperature performance, and the absence of mercury or lead and extremely low UV and IR, LEDs – which were invented by GE scientists in the 1960s - represent an ideal fit to achieve significant savings in power usage and to contribute to the sustainable development of the country. GE's innovative business model is taking LED lighting to the next level by leveraging the Industrial Internet, which integrates intelligent machines with brilliant people, allowing them to find new ways to address major global challenges. GE Lighting has a rich history in the Middle East having established long-standing business association with over 70 key partners over the past several decades. Over the years, GE has been advocating the importance of energy efficiency and creating platforms for discussion to raise awareness on the potential savings achievable with LED lighting. With a full-fledged team in the region, GE Lighting has several professionals driving the operations. Its distribution center in Jebel Ali, spanning over 1,375 square meters, serves as strategic hub for the company to further expand its presence in the UAE as well as strengthen exports to key markets in the Middle East and Africa. — SG
