"The meeting was organised by AMF and WTO in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The objective was to present the general framework in which national statistics on the international supply of services should be produced, covering the different aspects of data production: data collection, data compilation, quality and dissemination according to the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services (MSITS2010) adopted by the UN Statistical Commission in 2010 and the Compiler's Guide that was developed by the international community under the aegis of an  UN-led Expert Group.

The international supply of services is an important factor in   economic growth and employment. Trade in services negotiators and policy makers are therefore  in  need of relevant  data for developing proper negotiating strategies and taking knowledge-based decisions.

 This workshop was meant  to develop concrete steps for the improvement of data availability and quality in the context of the  Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 edition The workshop  illustrated means for collecting and compiling relevant data by type of service and by partner, as well as information on modes of supply.

The workshop should be considered by national authorities a step forward (and for many  a springboard) for  enhancing their efforts on compiling trade in services and foreign affiliates statistics.