2. the Second Meeting of SAARCSTAT Was Inaugurated by H.E. Dr. A.B. Mirza Md. Azizul Islam

SAARC/HSO.02/4

Report

The Second Meeting of Heads of SAARC Statistical Organisations (SAARCSTAT), was held at Dhaka on 17 April 2008 under the chairmanship of Mr. AYM Ekramul Hoque, Director General of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and the leader of the delegation of Bangladesh who took over the Chairmanship of SAARCSTAT from India.

2. The Second Meeting of SAARCSTAT was inaugurated by H.E. Dr. A.B. Mirza Md. Azizul Islam, Advisor, Finance and Planning, Government of Bangladesh. In his inaugural address, the Adviser welcomed the delegates and observed that accelerated economic growth is a precondition for poverty alleviation. But growth alone is not enough and has to be accompanied by suitable policy intervention for equitable distribution of fruits of growth and development to the poorer sections of the society. Policy intervention, especially aimed at poverty alleviation, which requires multiple policy interventions, should be based on reliable statistical information. Poverty in a wider sense also implies lack of access to education, medical services, safe drinking water etc. In order so that various geographical and social groups benefit from poverty alleviation efforts, the policy measures have to be targeted. For effective delivery of poverty alleviation efforts to targeted segments of populations (widows, disabled and poor children) through policy intervention, it is important to obtain dependable statistics for different stakeholders.

3.In terms of specific areas of cooperation, the Adviser highlighted that as the National Statistical Organizations of the SAARC Member States are not at the similar level of development, it might be useful for the SAARCSTAT to focus on sharing of experiences on the methodology for data collection and dissemination of collected Statistics. Also, the group could benefit the SAARC countries through sharing of analytical techniques in the field of Statistics. He wished a successful outcome to the deliberations of the second meeting of SAARCSTAT.

4. In his welcome remarks,Mr. AYM Ekramul Hoque, Director-General, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and the Chairperson of SAARCSTAT observed that with the emergence of the market economy the need for reliable and timely statistics has increased.

5. Mr. Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning also welcomed the delegates and hoped that the Member States would make stronger efforts in data collection and flow of information among the SAARC countries.

6.The Meeting reviewed the progress in the implementation of recommendations contained in the Report of Workshop on Classification and SNA (New Delhi, 5-6 June 2006) and in the Report of the First Meeting of Heads of Statistical Organisation of SAARC Member States (Kolkata, 26-27 May 2005).

7. The Meeting consideredand approved the Report of the First Meeting of SAARCSTAT Technical Sub-Groups held in Dhaka on 16 April 2008 with the observation that all concerned may take urgent action to implement the recommendations contained in the Report in a time-bound manner.

Following issues were discussed

A.Discussion on Establishment of a liaison office of SAARCSTAT at SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu and creation of a post of Statistical Adviser

8.A Power point presentation was made by the leader of delegation from India and it was agreed that India would prepare a concept note on the subject in consultation with other Member States through virtual conferencing and submit it to the Secretariat for the consideration of higher SAARC bodies.

B.Discussion on introduction of Exchange programme of expert Statisticians through MOU

9.The Meeting held extensive discussions on the matter and observed that the Member States need to examine in detail the elements of an agreement or an MOU on regional basis before it could be agreed in principle. The Meeting agreed that Pakistan will draft a framework MOU in consultation with other Member States. The matter may be discussed further at the next meeting of SAARCSTAT.

C.Discussion on establishment of channel of flexible interactions among SAARCSTAT organisations

10.The Meeting discussed the matter and highlighted that it was important to expedite the process of direct communications among the national statistical organisations of Member States. The Meeting agreed that focal points in the national statistical organisations may directly get in touch with one another for exchanging views, comments, data and for preparation of concept papers etc. For formal decisions, the correspondence should be routed to the SAARC Secretariat through the SAARC Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of Member States as per the existing practice.

D.Discussion of development of institutional framework for data collection on Trade in Services

11.The leader of delegation from India made a presentation on the subject. The next meeting of SAARCSTAT may also focus on capacity building for collection of statistics on Trade in Services in the Region.Accordingly, the Meeting discussed the matter and agreed that issues involved in comprehensive collection of data on Trade in Services in the Region need to be pursued with urgency. It being a new area, the existing capacity of the SAARC Member States for data collection on trade in services was constrained and mainly consisted of data provided by the respective Central Banks. As of now, National Statistical Offices (NSOs) were not directly involved in the process of data collection of trade in services. The Meeting recommended the following action points:

a.Strengthening of institutional mechanisms for regular collection and compilation of data on international trade in services;

b.Constitution of country teams including representatives of Ministries of Commerce/Ministry of Foreign Trade, Central Banks and National Statistical Offices.

c.Secretariat to explore international financial and technical assistance to facilitate short and long term capacity building of the Member States in data collection on trade in services. This may include capacity building of institutional mechanisms for data collection, standard/norm setting, and issue-specific and project-based sub-regional/regional cooperative efforts in this area.

d.The Secretariat may also bring this matter to the attention of SAARCFINANCE for their consideration.

E.Discussion on SAARC forum for disability statistics

12.The leader of delegation from India made a presentation on the subject. It was decided an informal virtual group under the chairmanship of Pakistan to collect information on existing practices and definitions being followed by the Member States on collection of data on disability.

F. Contribution made by leader of delegation from India.

13. The Meeting appreciated the role played by India as the outgoing Chairman of SAARCSTAT, and contribution made by Dr. S.K. Nath, Director General of Central Statistical Organisation for initiating various proposalsin advancing the regional cooperation in the field of statistics.

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