The 4th Meeting of the High Level Experts Group on Statistics was held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan on April 7-8, 2011. Participants of ECO Member States as well as international organizations such as Paris21, FAO, GIZ and the delegation of the Secretariat discussed a wide range of issues centered around ways forward in further improving statistical capacities of ECO Member States.
In his inaugural statement, H.E. Mr. Asif Bajwa Secretary for Statistics Division of Government of Pakistan mentioned the current dynamics in ongoing statistical activities and highlighted the importance of the enhancement of cooperation among national statistical offices within the region. Effective sharing of the expertise on modern data processing techniques as well as the methodological dimension were named among the prime tasks of statistics in the ECO region. Against this background, the FBS of Pakistan has invited the ECO Member States to benefit from its training programme scheduled in July 2011. With the expression of deep satisfaction with the opportunity of an open dialogue on most salient issues on statistical capacity building using the platform of the 4th HLEGM of ECO Member States, the Delegations spoke on the need for a more dynamic training on reviewed statistical systems. To this effect, the FBS has offered to establish ECO Statistical Training Center in Pakistan to meet such training needs on statistics in the region.
In order to strengthen capacity building, Azerbaijan, suggested improving, among others, the MDG data indicators by focusing on poverty and infant mortality. Turkey’s suggestion to develop regional capacity building strategy with due account to specific requirements of individual countries was welcomed by participants. Afghanistan has highlighted the increasing importance to develop agriculture statistics in the region. This point was well supported by all participants of the HLEGM. ECO’s cooperation with international partners on statistics has been constructively supplemented by statements delivered by FAO, PARIS 21, IDB and GIZ. The Meeting has called for ECO Member States’ nominations of their focal points for ECO Statistical Network. Further upgrades of the Network were mentioned for the discussion of the next 5th HLEGM in 2012.
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