EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

High-Level International Seminar on Cross-Border Digital Trade
Organized jointly by Bank Indonesia, UN Statistics Division (UNSD) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

• 18 October 2024

The international high-level seminar aims to help policymakers, statisticians, academics, and others understand the increasing trend of cross-border digital trade. The discussion will focus on policy issues, opportunities, and challenges related to digital trade. It will also address the participation of SMEs and individuals/households in utilizing digitalization to boost economic growth and explore innovative methodologies for collecting cross-border digital trade statistics. It targets a diverse audience of approximately 100 in-person participants, including central bank representatives, government officials, statistics compilers, academics, and private sector members.

International Workshop on Cross-Border Digital Trade
Organized jointly by Bank Indonesia, UN Statistics Division (UNSD) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

• 15-17 October 2024

The international workshop will cover topics described in the recently released Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade, which establishes a framework for compiling cross-border digital trade statistics and addresses the pressing need for accurate measurement in this rapidly evolving domain. Participants will learn about the conceptual framework for statistics on cross-border digital trade and discover sources and methods for compiling digital trade statistics. This event is essential for statistical compilers, policymakers, and data users seeking to ensure that the adoption of digitalization in international trade is well captured and understood.

E-Learning Course on Statistics of International Trade in Services
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 16 September - 25 October 2024

Main goals of the course are to enhance the capacity of trade statisticians to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations as contained in the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010); to define best possible data sources; to set up or enforce collection systems; and to strengthen statistical production processes. Furthermore, the course would raise awareness of SITS and its concepts, enhance statisticians’ capacity, and help them to better understand the MSITS 2010.

Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS)
Organized jointly by the Central Bank of El Salvador and UNSD

• 23 - 25 October 2023

Main objectives of the Workshop include advancing the implementation of IMTS 2010 recommendations, including issues of scope and coverage, bilateral asymmetries, quality and data comparability, data dissemination, analyses and uses, among others. Participants will discuss analyses of topics of interest on the compilation of international merchandise trade statistics; ways of strengthening the generation of the statistics, including the El Salvadorian International Merchandise Trade System and other experiences in this regard. Furthermore, the Workshop will discuss emerging issues on trade statistics, including the revision of the trade manuals.

E-Learning Course on Statistics of International Trade in Services
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 11 September - 31 October 2023

Main goals of the course are to enhance the capacity of trade statisticians to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations as contained in the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010); to define best possible data sources; to set up or enforce collection systems; and to strengthen statistical production processes. Furthermore, the course would raise awareness of SITS and its concepts, enhance statisticians’ capacity, and help them to better understand the MSITS 2010.

Cours d'apprentissage en ligne TrainForTrade sur les statistiques du commerce international des services
Organisé conjointement par la DSNU et la CNUCED en coopération avec l'OMC

• 11 Septembre - 31 Octobre 2023

L'objectif de ce cours est d’améliorer la capacité des statisticiens du commerce à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes du Manuel des statistiques du commerce international des services 2010 (MSCIS 2010) adoptées au niveau international, de définir les meilleures sources de données possibles, de mettre en place ou appliquer des systèmes de collecte, et de renforcer les processus de production statistique.

International Workshop on Science, Technology and Innovation Statistics
Organized jointly by NBS China and UNSD

• 25 - 27 July 2023

The main goal of the workshop is to assist the participants to gain better understanding of the concepts and definitions set out in the Frascati Manual 2015; Oslo Manual 2018, Guidelines for Collecting, Reporting and Using Data on Innovation, 4th Edition; and share best country and international practices, including STI indicators, statistics, and analyses.

SACU Training Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS), Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) and Data Tools
Organized jointly by SACU and UNSD

• 8 - 12 May 2023

The main goal of the Workshop is to assist the participants to gain better understanding of the concepts and definitions set out in the “International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010” (IMTS 2010); share best country practices, including on reflections regarding the “International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Compilers Manual, Revision 1 (IMTS 2010-CM).

Main objectives of the Workshop include:

• further advancing the implementation of IMTS 2010 and IMTS 2010 recommendations especially for scope and coverage, issues of bilateral asymmetries, quality and data comparability, data dissemination, analyses and uses, among others.
• discussing emerging issues on merchandise trade statistics, revision of the trade manuals.
• introducing the participants to SDMX in general, SDMX-IMTS data structure and SDMX tools available; mapping of SDMX-IMTS with Member States databases; and discussion on requirements for roll-out and readiness (including the roadmap for implementation).
• introducing participants to SQL (overview), concepts and applications of Relational Database Management Systems (DBMS) including MySQL, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MS Access.
• raising awareness of new data tools, including the UN Trade Data Tool and cloud computing ― MS Azure.

E-learning Course and Webinars on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 24 April – 7 June 2023

Main goals of the course are to enhance statisticians' ability to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS, define best possible data sources, set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems, and enhance statistics compilation and production processes. The course focuses on the following topics: Conceptual Framework, Institutional Arrangement, Production and Compilation, Metadata and Quality, Dissemination and Analysis and New Areas of Work. Furthermore, the course emphasizes the importance of quality, metadata, timely dissemination, and links to economic analysis and national policy objectives.

Cours d'apprentissage en ligne TrainForTrade sur les statistiques du commerce international de marchandises
Organisé conjointement par la DSNU et la CNUCED en coopération avec l'OMC

• 24 avril – 7 juin 2023

Les principaux objectifs sont de renforcer l’aptitude des statisticiens à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes sur les SCIM, décidées au niveau international, à identifier les meilleures sources de données, à mettre en place des outils adaptés à la collecte des données et à améliorer les modalités d’élaboration des statistiques. De plus, le cours insiste sur la qualité, les métadonnées, la diffusion des statistiques ainsi que sur l’apport des SCIM à l’analyse économique et la formulation d’objectifs nationaux de politique économique.

Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics Compilation, Analysis, Dissemination, Indicators and Uses
Organized UNSD in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), and the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus)

• 5 - 10 December 2022

The workshop is held to introduce and discuss the latest development on the revision of international recommendations on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS), newly released SPC trade compilation guidelines, and the setting up of the Pacific Customs Commodity Trade database.

What the workshop will cover:

• Sources of trade data e.g., UNCTAD’s role in assisting Customs with ASYCUDA.
• Classification framework: Pacific Harmonised System (PACHS System).
• Methodology to compile IMTS: Pacific Compilation Guide 2021 released end 2021.
• Dissemination of trade statistics e.g., IMTS statistical tables and recommendations for modernizing processes, Trade Dashboard demonstration and the Pacific Commodity Trade database
• Analysis, indicators and uses e.g., SDGs including food security, NCD risk factors (alcohol and tobacco consumption indicators), Trade to GDP ratio, goods accounts in BOP, and expenditure account in GDP, use of trade in policy e.g., tax revenue implications due to PTAs, infrastructure planning, transport policies, import leakage in tourism and construction of trade indices

SACU Capacity Building Session on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) and Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX)
Organized jointly by SACU and UNSD

• 14 - 15 June 2022

Areas identified for capacity building include (i) the application of the IMTS 2010 concepts and definitions and (ii) the application of the SDMX. These areas provide methodological frameworks for the collection, compilation, dissemination, harmonization, and exchange of trade statistics. Specifically, the workshop is expected to refresh trade statisticians and data compilers of SACU Member States on the IMTS concepts and definitions relevant to data reconciliation and the sharing of trade data. The workshop will include discussing countries' practices and compliance with IMTS 2010, and introduction to SDMX and big Data in trade statistics.

E-learning Course and Webinars on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 28 February - 10 April 2022

Main goals of the course are to enhance statisticians' ability to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS, define best possible data sources, set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems, and enhance statistics compilation and production processes. The course focuses on the following topics: Conceptual Framework, Institutional Arrangement, Production and Compilation, Metadata and Quality, Dissemination and Analysis and New Areas of Work. Furthermore, the course emphasizes the importance of quality, metadata, timely dissemination, and links to economic analysis and national policy objectives.

Cours de formation à distance sur les Statistiques du Commerce International des Marchandises
Organisé par DSNU et la CNUCED, en coopération avec l’OMC

• 28 février – 12 avril 2022

Les principaux objectifs sont de renforcer l’aptitude des statisticiens à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes sur les SCIM, décidées au niveau international, à identifier les meilleures sources de données, à mettre en place des outils adaptés à la collecte des données et à améliorer les modalités d’élaboration des statistiques. De plus, le cours insiste sur la qualité, les métadonnées, la diffusion des statistiques ainsi que sur l’apport des SCIM à l’analyse économique et la formulation d’objectifs nationaux de politique économique.

ADB-UNSD-SIAP Collaboration on SDMX Online Training Course
Organized jointly by ADB in partnership with UNSD, SIAP, and ESCAP

• 28 March - 6 May 2022

The online training course outline is connected to the SDMX Roadmap 2025 (https://sdmx.org/?page_id=10610) wherein for the next five years, the four main priorities are focused on: strengthening the implementation of SDMX; making data usage easier via SDMX; using SDMX to modernize statistical processes and IT infrastructure, and stepping up efforts to improve communication and better interaction with the broader community.

International Workshop on the Integrated Use of International Trade Statistics and Economic Statistics
Organized jointly by NBS China, UNSD and UNCTAD in cooperation with WTO

• 23 - 25 November 2021

Main goals of the course are to further advancing the implementation of IMTS 2010 and MSITS 2010 recommendations especially for compilation of e-commerce and selected categories of Trade in Services; strengthening data production on digital trade and e-commerce; and enhancing capacities to link data related to business and trade statistics.

E-Learning Course on Statistics of International Trade in Services
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 6 September - 28 October 2021

Main goals of the course are to enhance the capacity of trade statisticians to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations as contained in the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010); to define best possible data sources; to set up or enforce collection systems; and to strengthen statistical production processes. Furthermore, the course would raise awareness of SITS and its concepts, enhance statisticians’ capacity, and help them to better understand the MSITS 2010.

Cours d'apprentissage en ligne TrainForTrade sur les statistiques du commerce international des services
Organisé conjointement par la DSNU et la CNUCED en coopération avec l'OMC

• 6 Septembre - 28 Octobre 2021

L'objectif de ce cours est d’améliorer la capacité des statisticiens du commerce à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes du Manuel des statistiques du commerce international des services 2010 (MSCIS 2010) adoptées au niveau international, de définir les meilleures sources de données possibles, de mettre en place ou appliquer des systèmes de collecte, et de renforcer les processus de production statistique.

E-Learning on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 15 March to 23 April 2021

Main goals of the course are to enhance statisticians' ability to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS, define best possible data sources, set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems, and enhance statistics compilation and production processes. The course focuses on the following topics: Conceptual Framework, Institutional Arrangement, Production and Compilation, Metadata and Quality, Dissemination and Analysis and New Areas of Work. Furthermore, the course emphasises the importance of quality, metadata, timely dissemination, and links to economic analysis and national policy objectives. The course enhances trainees' capacity to make better use of the internationally agreed guidance, especially the IMTS Concepts and Definitions 2010 and the related Compilers Manual.

Cours de formation à distance sur les Statistiques du Commerce International des Marchandises
Organisé par DSNU et la CNUCED, en coopération avec l’OMC

• 15 mars - 23 avril 2021

Les principaux objectifs sont de renforcer l’aptitude des statisticiens à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes sur les SCIM, décidées au niveau international, à identifier les meilleures sources de données, à mettre en place des outils adaptés à la collecte des données et à améliorer les modalités d’élaboration des statistiques. De plus, le cours insiste sur la qualité, les métadonnées, la diffusion des statistiques ainsi que sur l’apport des SCIM à l’analyse économique et la formulation d’objectifs nationaux de politique économique.

Regional Workshop on Statistics of International Trade in Services (SITS)
Organized Jointly by UN ECLAC and UNSD in collaboration with WTO

• Virtual, 9-11 December 2020

Economic globalization facilitated by the adoption of digital technology has accelerated international trade in services. The changing patterns and dynamics of international trade present new measurement challenges, but also new opportunities for international trade statistics in services to use non-traditional in addition to traditional data sources and methods. Recently, the Covid-19 pandemic is also impacting the international trade in services in many ways. This workshop is an opportunity for countries to share their experiences and challenges in the compilation of SITS, especially on challenging categories. The objectives of the workshop include: advancing the implementation of the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010) recommendations, especially with an in-depth focus on most challenging categories of Trade in Services; enhancing capacities to produce high quality data and meet an increased demand for timely and relevant data for policy needs in the Decade of Action and era of Covid-19 pandemic; raising awareness of the development of a statistical conceptual framework for measuring digital trade in services; and building capacities of national statistical offices and other relevant agencies in the use of technology for SITS.

Joint GCC STAT - UNSD Regional Workshop on Future of International Merchandise Trade Statistcs
Organized jointly by UNSD and GCC-STAT

• 9 - 11 November 2020

Economic globalization, advancement in technology and the emergence of Big Data present many new challenges, but also new opportunities for International Trade Statistics in goods and services. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic has made the measurement of digital trade and e-commerce more pertinent.
The objective of the workshop is to assist countries in better understanding the concepts and definitions of IMTS-2010 and its implementation, but also improve capacity in new and emerging areas.

E-Learning Course on Statistics of International Trade in Services
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 21 September - 30 October 2020

Main goals of the course are to enhance the capacity of trade statisticians to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations as contained in the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010); to define best possible data sources; to set up or enforce collection systems; and to strengthen statistical production processes. Furthermore, the course would raise awareness of SITS and its concepts, enhance statisticians’ capacity, and help them to better understand the MSITS 2010.

Cours d'apprentissage en ligne TrainForTrade sur les statistiques du commerce international des services
Organisé conjointement par la DSNU et la CNUCED en coopération avec l'OMC

• 21 Septembre - 30 Octobre 2020

L'objectif de ce cours est d’améliorer la capacité des statisticiens du commerce à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes du Manuel des statistiques du commerce international des services 2010 (MSCIS 2010) adoptées au niveau international, de définir les meilleures sources de données possibles, de mettre en place ou appliquer des systèmes de collecte, et de renforcer les processus de production statistique.

Cours de formation à distance sur les Statistiques du Commerce International des Marchandises
Organisé par l’ONU, CNUCED, en coopération avec l’OMC

• 1 juin – 10 juillet 2020

Les principaux objectifs sont de renforcer l’aptitude des statisticiens à appliquer les recommandations les plus récentes sur les SCIM, décidées au niveau international, à identifier les meilleures sources de données, à mettre en place des outils adaptés à la collecte des données et à améliorer les modalités d’élaboration des statistiques. De plus, le cours insiste sur la qualité, les métadonnées, la diffusion des statistiques ainsi que sur l’apport des SCIM à l’analyse économique et la formulation d’objectifs nationaux de politique économique.

Automatic Identification System (AIS) Data Week
Global Working Group on Big Data for Official Statistics

• 9 – 13 March 2020

AIS data is data from the automatic identification system of vessels and can be used to get, among others, timely indicators about trade, fishing, and ships in distress. The AIS Task Team consisting of members around the world will be available during data week to present case studies, to run code and to answer the questions users have on connecting with the platform, getting the data and calculating indicators for their use.

E-Learning on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Organized jointly by UNSD, UNCTAD, in cooperation with WTO

• 16 March - 24 April 2020

Main goals of the course are to enhance statisticians' ability to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS, define best possible data sources, set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems, and enhance statistics compilation and production processes. The course focuses on the following topics: Conceptual Framework, Institutional Arrangement, Production and Compilation, Metadata and Quality, Dissemination and Analysis and New Areas of Work. Furthermore, the course emphasises the importance of quality, metadata, timely dissemination, and links to economic analysis and national policy objectives. The course enhances trainees' capacity to make better use of the internationally agreed guidance, especially the IMTS Concepts and Definitions 2010 and the related Compilers Manual.

Regional Training Workshop on Economic Statistics SDMX

•  Manila, Philippines
 
•  24-28 February 2020

The UNSD in collaboration with ADB, ASEAN, and EU-ASEAN ARISE project will conduct a Regional Training Workshop on Economic Statistics SDMX targeting 10 Southeast Asia countries. The workshop will bring together the subject matter and IT experts from institutions responsible in the compilation of SNA and IMTS in Southeast Asia region. Interested regional organizations in Asia will be also attending. Part of the objectives of the workshop are: To train subject matters experts on specific global SDMX Data Structure Definitions of SNA and IMTS, teach IT experts on various SDMX tools and to assist statisticians and IT experts in implementing SDMX by conducting mapping exercises between a national database and SDMX code lists for specific domain.

Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
International Trade Statistics: Edge of Tomorrow

• Nur-Sultan, Republic of Kazakhstan
 
• 14-15 November 2019

The main objective of the workshop is to develop a strategic action a plan in the field of international trade statistics that will provide users with up-to-date data relevant to contemporary challenges, outline new opportunities for data collection and draw a “roadmap” for the midterm development of external and mutual trade statistics in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) region. Furthermore, the workshop will aim to further enhance capacity of trade statisticians to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations (IMTS 2010) and to raise awareness on emerging measurement issues such as e-commerce statistics and big data for IMTS.

Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Implementing IMTS 2010 Concepts and Definitions

• Johannesburg, South Africa
 
• 24-28 June 2019

The workshop is a continuation of an e-learning course on IMTS that was conducted from 25 March to 3 May 2019 with aims to further enhance the capacity of trade statisticians to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations - IMTS 2010 - and to raise awareness on emerging measurement issues such as e-commerce statistics and big data for IMTS. It is expected that participants would undertake hands-on exercises and engage in group discussions.

2nd Regional Training Workshop on Trade SDMX
Strengthening trade data reporting and exchange mechanism

• Tunis, Tunisia
 
• 18-22 February 2019

Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) is a preferred data transmission standard on statistical data as noted in UN Statistical Commission report on Decision 12 on its thirty-ninth session (2008). And in addition, SDMX is an ISO standard (ISO 17369:2013) designed to describe statistical data and metadata, normalize data exchange and improve their efficient sharing across statistical and similar organizations. The African Union Commission (AUC) and UN Statistics Division (UNSD) organize jointly the second Regional Training Workshop on Trade SDMX to raise awareness on SDMX-IMTS artifacts including data structure, concepts and code lists; and to train IT experts and trade statisticians in using latest SDMX tools to map their trade database in to SDMX-IMTS output.

High Level Seminar on the Digital Economy

• Bejing, China
 
• 15-17 November 2018

The purpose of the high-level seminar is a) to raise awareness about the transformative impacts of digital technologies across our economies, societies and environment, b) to identify policy, research and information gaps as well as ways to improve interdisciplinary actions on the measurement of digital economy, and c) to present concrete proposals to strengthen cooperation for these actions in an inclusive manner.

Regional Training Workshop on Trade SDMX
Strengthening trade data reporting and exchange mechanism

• Tunis, Tunisia
 
• 10-14 September 2018

Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) is a preferred data transmission standard on statistical data as noted in UN Statistical Commission report on Decision 12 on its thirty-ninth session (2008). And in addition, SDMX is an ISO standard (ISO 17369:2013) designed to describe statistical data and metadata, normalize data exchange and improve their efficient sharing across statistical and similar organizations. The African Union Commission (AUC) and UN Statistics Division (UNSD) organize jointly the first Regional Training Workshop on Trade SDMX to raise awareness on SDMX-IMTS artifacts including data structure, concepts and code lists; and to train IT experts and trade statisticians in using latest SDMX tools to map their trade database in to SDMX-IMTS output.

Expert Group on Business Statistics Meeting
Organized by UNSD and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico (INEGI)

• Mexico City, Mexico
 
• 23-25 May, 2018

In March 2017, the UN Statistical Commission endorsed the proposal to establish UN guidelines for statistical business registers (SBR) based on existing guidelines, while considering the needs of countries with less-developed statistical systems by incorporating country cases applicable to a broad range of statistical systems. The Commission created for this purpose an expert group to prepare not only the guidelines for SBR, but also to give guidance on issues of integrated business statistics, which includes the use of administrative data for business and basic economic statistics, the choice of statistical units in the context of globalization, business statistics and the digital economy, and issues related to a large informal sector.

Regional validation workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Strengthening Data Compilation and Analytical Capacity

• Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
 
• 15-18 May 2018

Jointly organized by ACS, UNSD, and UNCTAD. the Regional validation workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) is organized as a follow-up activity to the distance-learning course on International Merchandise Trade Statistics, delivered for the first time (to more than 130 participants from 28 countries) to contribute to enhance the knowledge and the capacity IMTS professionals, mainly from the English-speaking countries from the Caribbean region and Asia.

Meeting of the Expert Group on international trade and economic globalization statistics
Handbook on Accounting for Global Value Chains
Jointly organized by ISTAT and UNSD

• Rome, Italy
 
• 7-9 May, 2018

In its decision 46/107, the UN Statistical Commission established the Expert Group on International Trade and Economic Globalization Statistics to address these measurement challenges. The main task of the Expert Group is to develop a handbook that will account for the measurement of GVCs, as described in various reports to the Commission on this topic in the past five years. Both the GVC perspective and the perspective of the national data compiler are fundamental to understanding the composition of the handbook. However, with the realization of the cross-country impact of GVCs on the economic structure of partner countries, a multi-country perspective for those national industries that are included in major GVCs is encouraged in the handbook.

UN Comtrade Data Fair
Graduate Institute's Centre for Trade and Economic Integration

• Geneva, Switzerland
 
• 25 September 2017

Just preceding the 2017 WTO Public Forum, the United Nations Statistics Division will organize the first one-day UN Comtrade Data Fair in close collaboration with the World Trade Organization and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.The main objective of this Fair is to explain and demonstrate the latest on international trade data and their analytical use for trade policies.

Regional Workshop on International Trade Merchandise Trade Statistics
Strengthening Data Compilation and Analytical Capacity

• Suzhou, China
 
• 11-13 September, 2017

In order to better measure international trade, new recommendations for international merchandise trade statistics were adopted by all UN member states through the UN Statistical Commission in 2010. Countries have started implementing the new elements of these international standards, notably the trade by mode of transport, trade by country of consignment, trade by inward and outward processing, reporting customs procedure codes, and imports valuation on an FOB basis. And in addition, countries are encourage to provide the data elements to global repository of official international trade statistics database (UN Comtrade) maintained by UN Statistics Division.

4th UN Conference on Big Data

• Bogota, Colombia
 
• 8 - 10 Nov 2017

Big Data, administrative data and traditional statistical data sources should be treated together via a multi-source approach; the challenge is not to overcome problems of using Big Data in itself, but to achieve trusted data collaboration; and in that respect the UN Global Working Group on Big Data needs a collaborative Global Platform for the overall organization of its work. Data collaboratives are a new challenge and new opportunity for the community of official statistics - in relation to Big Data, to the SDGs, to the sharing of data, services, technologies, and know how.

Regional Workshop on the Compilation of the Tourism Satellite Account
Organized jointly by UNSD and the World Tourism Organization

• Manila, Philippines
 
• 19-20 June 2017

The purpose of the workshop is to explain what a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) is, how it can be used for national tourism policies, and what the challenges are to compile it. The TSA provides a coherent framework to integrate and analyse the variety of economic statistics relevant to tourism, both on the supply (industry) side and on the demand (tourist) side. The TSA also provides an economic measure of the importance of tourism in terms of expenditures, GDP and employment which are comparable with similar measures for the overall economy.

Seminar on Accounting for Global Value Chains

• Luxembourg
 
• 6-8 June 2017

This seminar will discuss the issues which have been brought up in the preparation of the Handbook on Accounting for Global Value Chains: extended national accounts and integrated business statistics. The main objective of the Handbook is to provide a high-level overview of how economic statistics can be made more accurate and relevant in measuring the effects of globalization in national accounts and business statistics.

Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Organized by the Customs Services of Maldives and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

• Malé, Maldives
 
• 3-6 April 2017

As an ongoing capacity development project to strengthen trade data compilation and analytical capacity, the workshop’s objectives are to address questions regarding methodology and challenges in data compilation of International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) ; exchange country experiences with issues such as data acquisition, data compilation strategies and data dissemination related to compilation of IMTS; establish close cooperation among institutions which are providing, compiling and using trade statistics and; acquire practical knowledge in trade data analysis through the use of TradeSift and data visualization. The ultimate goal is to enable compilers to produce international merchandise trade statistics of the highest quality and enable compilers and users to analyze trade statistics relevant to their needs.

Regional Workshop on International Trade Statistics
Organized by UNSD in cooperation with UNESCAP and ECO and hosted by the State Statistical Committee of Turkmenistan

• Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
 
• 26 – 29 September 2016

The objective of the workshop is to improve the understanding of international recommendations on international merchandise trade statistics and on international trade in services statistics, to share hands-on experiences in data acquisition, data compilation strategies (including data standardization and checking), data quality framework and data analysis and dissemination among trade statistics compilers. Furthermore, the discussion will be touching upon the improvement of data access and flow within national statistical systems with better coordination and cooperation among data providers and compilers. The ultimate goal is to produce the highest quality of international trade in goods and services statistics, which are relevant for the policy makers at home and which are also comparable at the regional and international levels.

3rd International Conference on Big Data for Official Statistics

• Dublin, Ireland
 
• 30 Aug - 1 Sep 2016

In line with the priorities of work and with the urgent needs for support of SDG indicators, the third Global Conference on Big Data for Official Statistics wants to take the next steps in the utilization of Big Data in the production of official statistics, namely by (1) providing guidance for access to proprietary data and for successful partnerships with data owners, by (2) providing training courses on topics such as methodology, IT tools and project management related to Big Data, and by (3) supporting projects, which demonstrate the use of Big Data for official statistics, and especially for the compilation of SDG indicators.

Fifth International Conference on Establishment Surveys (ICES-V)

• Geneva, Switzerland
 
• 20 - 23 June 2016

The Fifth International Conference on Establishment Surveys (ICES-V) will take place on 20-23 June 2016 in Geneva and is organized by Statistics Sweden, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, UNECE, Eurostat, OECD, UNCTAD, the US Department of Agriculture and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. UNSD is involved in three invited sessions, namely in a session on global value chains (GVCs) and measurement of interconnectedness of economies, a session on International Trade and Globalization and one on Developing and mainstreaming business statistics in low and middle income countries. The programme is overall very rich and contains 5 or 6 parallel sessions on each of the 4 time slots of the day, and contains sessions, which are all directly relevant for the work programme of UNSD on trade and economic globalization statistics, such as on firm heterogeneity, statistical units and the quality of business registers.

Joint GCC-STAT/UNSD Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Organized by GCC-STAT and UNSD

• Muscat, Oman
 
• 7-10 February 2016

The objective of the workshop is to improve the understanding of international recommendations on international merchandise trade statistics and to share hands-on experiences in data acquisition, data compilation strategies (including data standardization and checking), data quality framework and data analysis and dissemination among trade statistics compilers. Furthermore, the discussion will be touching upon the improvement of data access and flow within national statistical systems with better coordination and cooperation among data providers and compilers. The ultimate goal is to produce the highest quality of international merchandise trade statistics, which are relevant for the policy makers at home and which are also comparable at the regional and international levels. The seminar would be attended by official statisticians from national statistical offices as well as from customs departments. One of the goals of workshop is to bring the communities of statisticians closer together both nationally and internationally.

Expert Group Meeting - Handbook on a System of Extended International and Global Accounts

• New York, USA
 
• 26-28 January 2016

Following Decision 46/107 taken by the Statistical Commission at its 46th session in 2015, a handbook on a system of extended international and global accounts will be prepared, which will serve as the measurement framework for international trade and economic globalization. This handbook will build on existing work in this area, in particular by the UNECE, the OECD and Eurostat, and address issues of micro-data linking of business and trade statistics, as well as address the integration of economic, environmental and social dimensions of trade and globalization as an extension of the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA) and the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 (SEEA 2012).

2nd Global International Conference on Big Data for Official Statistics
Organized by the National Bureau of Statistics of UAE, the United Nations Statistics Division and the Australian Bureau of Statistics

• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 
• 20-22 October 2015

This conference intends to take the development of Big Data one step further. Thus far, many examples of Big Data projects have been demonstrated. Now, the focus will be on lessons learned on the basis of detailed descriptions of those case studies. This is a first step towards guidance on using Big Data for Official Statistics, which can stimulate training, pilot projects and bringing pilot projects into the production environment. Therefore, the theme of the second global conference is 'moving from examples to guidelines'.

International Workshop on the Business Register, Economic Census and Integrated Economic Statistics
Organized by UNSD and INEGI

• Aguascalientes, Mexico
 
• 29 September – 1 October 2015

The objective of the workshop is for participating countries to share experience and knowledge in maintaining and linking the SBR to economic statistics for creating an integrated economic statistics programme, in running an Economic Census, and using administrative data.

In addition, certain challenges and obstacles and solutions will be discussed, including the revision of laws relating to the access of information on individual establishments for statistical purposes; aligning statistical concepts and definitions to the administrative units available; standardizing and linking information from the SBR to external data sources; replacing questionnaires with information available from the economic census, and/or the SBR.

Regional Seminar on International Trade Statistics
Organized by UNSD, DGCIS, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and CSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India in cooperation with EU-ASEAN COMPASS project

• New Delhi, India
 
• 3-6 November 2014

The objective of seminar is to improve the understanding of these recommendations and to share experiences on how to possibly improve the implementation in national statistical systems with better coordination and cooperation among data providers and compilers. And the ultimate goal is to produce the highest quality of international trade statistics, which are relevant for the policy makers at home and which are also comparable at the regional and international levels.

The seminar would be attended by official statisticians from national statistical offices as well as from central banks. One of the goals of seminar is to bring the communities of statisticians closer together both nationally and internationally. Within the framework of Integrated Economic Statistics, it is necessary for national stakeholders to establish working communication channel, collaborate in finding solutions for measurement problems and streamline the production of statistics. At the practical side, the central bank and the statistical office need to work together to produce high-quality trade and balance of payment statistics for evidence-based policy making.

International Conference on Big Data For Official Statistics
Organized by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and National Bureau of Statistics of China

• Beijing, China
 
• 28 – 30 October 2014

Innovations in technology, broad use of electronic devices and the all-around generation of digital information brings fundamental changes to the availability of real-time information, such as data from GPS devices, from mobile phones or from social media. These high-volume and sometimes loosely structured data sources, commonly referred to as Big Data, are different from conventional data sources for official statistics, and have many challenges in their application. The business case still needs to be made for many statistical offices if, why and how Big Data are useful for official statistics.

The statistical community has recognized the potential use of big data for official statistics. The UN Statistical Commission therefore established in March 2014 a global working group mandated to provide strategic vision, direction and coordination of a global programme on Big Data for official statistics, to promote practical use of sources of Big Data for official statistics, while finding solutions for their challenges, and to promote capacity building and sharing of experiences in this respect.

Friends of the Chair Group on International Trade and Economic Globalization
Expert Meeting organized by UNSD and hosted by INEGI

• Aguascalientes, Mexico
 
• 2 October 2014

Friends of the Chair on International Trade and Economic Globalization will meet for the second time to discuss progress made during the period 2013-2014 and to finalize the concept paper on the measurement of international trade and economic globalization along with programme of work and coordination mechanism for submission to Statistical Commission at its 46th session in 2015.

International Conference on Measurement of Trade and Economic Globalization
Organized by UNSD and INEGI in cooperation with OECD, WTO and Eurostat

• Aguascalientes, Mexico
 
• 29 September – 1 October 2014

In recent years, concerns were raised about the shortcomings of the existing official trade statistics for the purpose of reflecting bilateral economic relations. The high level of import content in exports makes gross bilateral trade statistics unsuitable for bilateral trade negotiations. Trade analysis requires new measures which better reflect the level of interdependencies among countries engaged in global value chains (GVCs). In order to understand the true nature of trade relationships, it is necessary to know what each country along a global value chain contributes to the value of a final product. In addition, it is important to understand how that contribution is linked to those of other suppliers in other countries coming before and after along the chain, and how much employment and income is generated through this value addition.

Within this context the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) in cooperation with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO) and Eurostat are organizing an international conference on the measurement of trade and economic globalization.

The objective of this international conference is to discuss conceptual and practical ways of measuring trade and economic globalization, through the understanding of comprehensive statistical frame, global production and business practices, requirements and micro-data compilation for a global Supply-Use Table, firm heterogeneity and the impact of global production on national, regional and global economy. This international conference will bring together international and national experts in the compilation of trade, business or national account statistics and analysts/researchers who are interested in measuring trade and economic globalization.

Regional Seminar on International Trade Statistics: Implementation of recommendations
Organized jointly by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 
• 12 - 16 May 2014

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) organize jointly a Regional Seminar on International Trade Statistics in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) from 12 to 16 May 2014 at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The objective of this seminar is to strengthen the capacity of the national statistical systems of countries throughout the African continent in statistics of international trade in goods and services. This activity forms a significant part of the broader effort to improve integrated economic statistics through the implementation of the 2008 System of National Accounts.

This seminar will bring together national experts in the compilation of international merchandise trade statistics (IMTS), statistics of international trade in services, and the goods and services accounts of the balance of payments. The agenda is meant to elicit hands-on discussion and focuses on the status and, especially, the challenges encountered in the implementation of the international recommendations in these fields. A specific item on the agenda is the report of the results of the IMTS quality assessment questionnaire, along with selected issues of concern. Other topics are bridging IMTS and BOP, informal cross border trade, linking trade and the business register, FATS, and data dissemination. This joint activity is an important component in the overall effort to improve evidence-based policy making in Africa.

Strengthening Statistical Capacity for International Trade and Tourism
Lunchtime Seminar during the 45th Statistical Commission organized by UNSD

• New York, USA
 
• 5 March 2014

At the Ninth Ministerial Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia, from 3 to 7 December 2013, ministers adopted the “Bali Package”, a series of decisions aimed at streamlining trade, allowing developing countries more options for providing food security, boosting least-developed countries’ trade and helping development more generally. It will reduce the cost of trading, smooth the flow of goods across borders and provide more certainty for business. Least developed countries will also benefit from increased access to markets for goods and services in developed countries. At the same time, EU-US trade and investment negotiations have made steady progress in the last eight months.

Within this context, high quality and timely official statistics on international trade and tourism remain extremely important. As a collaborative effort, the international organizations (Eurostat, IMF, OECD, WTO, UNWTO, and UNSD) present their views and outline their efforts to strengthen the capacity of the national statistical systems, especially in the developing countries. The just completed draft Compilers guides for statistics of international trade in services and for tourism statistics will be briefly introduced, and explanation will be given on the outstanding work on compilation guidance. Reference will also be made to the Compilation Guide for BPM6 and the Compilers manual for IMTS 2010.

Moreover, the agencies will report on recent and upcoming technical cooperation and capacity-building programs, such as Eurostat’s MEDSTAT seminars; WTO’s efforts on trade in services; UNWTO’s capacity building programme for Tourism statistics; IMF’s technical assistance programmes and UNSD’s capacity-building seminars on trade and tourism statistics. In many cases, the international agencies as well as experts from advanced statistical offices join forces in the capacity development activities.

Managing the Data Revolution: Integrated Statistics and Partnerships in Data for Statistical Organizations in the post-2015 era
United Nations Statistical Commission

For instance, engagement with business around corporate sustainability means working on a partnership regarding robust and internationally agreed accountability measures in order to make business commitments transparent and to ensure that progress towards them is real. Civil society as a partner may lead to finding new data sources to measure an enabling environment of societies, , whereas research institutes like the World Resources Institute (WRI) are invaluable in increasing sources of information on many topics like a sustainable food future, or ecosystems and human well-being. Recently, WRI developed map-based monitoring platforms for deforestation (Global Forest Watch) and water management (Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas). These map-based monitoring systems demonstrate the power of partnerships in sharing purpose, techniques, knowledge and data.

These success stories should lead to further data initiatives where the official statistical community can play a significant role by sharing their knowledge of statistical methods and techniques, but also by giving access to their micro-data on businesses, households, individuals and land cover. Cooperation with the national statistical offices (NSOs) can also strengthen the credibility of these data initiatives through the independence and trust of national statistical offices (NSOs).

NSOs need to prepare themselves for the high demands that will inevitably arise from the post-2015 development agenda for integrated economic, social and environmental statistics. They should introduce innovations in their structures, systems and processes to increase their efficiency and ability to adapt to new requests. Moreover their adoption of the corporate business architecture based on standardized statistical information models will enhance the flexibility in business operations and enable the sharing of methods, components, processes and data repositories within their organization and across statistical organizations. Also, advancing open and easy access to micro-data will increase the relevance and value of the official statistics, and will further the NSOs in delivering their mission in the post-2015 era.

International Seminar on Trade and Tourism Statistics
Organized jointly by UNSD, APEC and ASEAN Secretariat, hosted by BPS-Statistics Indonesia with support from AANZFTA ECWP and APEC TATF

• Jakarta, Indonesia
 
• 7 - 10 October 2013

The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the ASEAN Secretariat with support of BPS-Statistics Indonesia and the APEC secretariat will organize an International Seminar on Trade and Tourism Statistics from 7 to 10 October 2013 at the headquarters of BPS-Statistics Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The agenda of the workshop will cover topics such as a new approach for the measurement of international Trade and Global Value Chains, the MSITS 2010 Compilers Guide and the Compilation Guide for Tourism Statistics. Specific topics will include enterprise and establishment surveys; surveys of persons and households; Travel and Tourism statistics; Transportation statistics; Manufacturing services on inputs owned by others; FATS, FDI and multi-national enterprises; Guidelines for Statistical Business Registers; and linking trade, FDI and FATS with the business register.

Friends of the Chair Group on International Trade and Economic Globalization
United Nations Statistical Commission - Expert Meeting

• New York, USA
 
• 6-8 November 2013

At the most recent session of the Statistical Commission in 2013, the United Nations Statistics Division presented an overview report International Trade Statistics (Report of the Secretary-General, E/CN.3/2013/7) of the work undertaken in the field of international trade statistics on topics such as integrated economic statistics, linking trade and business statistics, trade and global production, trade in value added, statistics of multinational enterprises and foreign direct investment. The report described the policy questions regarding international trade in a world in which production processes are spread among many countries creating not only economic and financial interdependencies but also social and environmental ones. The report then highlighted the growing concerns regarding the limitations of current trade statistics to inform the policy debate. Some phenomena, which are difficult to measure and for which adequate data are lacking, include intra-firm trade, foreign control, manufacturing services performed on inputs owned by others, and transfers of intellectual property products.

While there are many international task teams working on these measurement problems in various areas of international trade and economic globalization (see annex 3), an overarching framework and systematic coordination are lacking. The Commission recognized See Decision 44/106 in E/2013/24 the need for such framework and coordination and agreed to the creation of a “friends of the chair” group tasked with preparing a concept paper on the scope and content of the framework, and on the appropriate mechanism for coordination.

Regional Workshop on Travel and International Tourism Consumption
Organized by UNSD and the CARICOM Secretariat

• Roseau, Dominica
 
• 14 – 17 May 2013

UNSD is organizing, in close collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat, a training workshop on compilation issues of Travel and Tourism Statistics for the Caribbean countries from 14 to 17 May 2013 in Roseau, Dominica, which will be hosted by the Central Statistical Office of Dominica.

The agenda of the workshop will cover topics such as: the trade in services and tourism statistics and its their role in the statistical system, travel and tourism compilation including measuring employment, related classification and data quality and metadata and also tourism satellite accounts.