The United Nations for Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) is implementing a project "Strengthening the Development of International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) and the compilation of e-commerce in Member Countries of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)", jointly with its partners including United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD/ ASYCUDA project).

The overriding objective of the project is to assist ESCWA member countries in developing and improving their capacity to collect, process, analyze, utilize and disseminate trade data for the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of national plans and policies for international and regional trade negotiations.

Continuation to the implementation of the activities in the project which was started in 2006, ESCWA is organizing, in collaboration with United Nations Statistics Division, the Workshop on Data Compilation and Application of Methodological Concepts, to be held in Amman from 28 October to 2 November 2007.

A. Objectives

Update the capabilities of officials in the implementation of the concepts and definitions in collecting, processing and dissemination international merchandise trade statistics;
Raise awareness for the importance of use of technology in collecting, processing and dissemination of trade data in customs administration and National statistical offices;
Present and discuss the importance of coordination between national institutions involved in trade data compilation;
Exchange experiences and concerns between ESCWA member countries.

B. Participants

National statistical offices, customs administration and central banks in the ESCWA member countries.
National statistical offices, customs administration and central banks in Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.
Experts from UNSD, UNCTAD (ASYCUDA) WCO and MEDSTATII.
Experts from other UN agencies, regional and international organizations.

C. Documentation

Papers prepared by ESCWA secretariat
Papers prepared by UNSD, UNCTAD/Asycuda, WCO and MEDSTATII
Papers prepared by the participants on their national experience in compiling, processing and disseminating international merchandise trade

D. Primary Outcomes

Exchange expertise between the ESCWA member countries and discuss hindrances to apply the concepts and definitions in collecting, processing and dissemination international merchandise trade statistics and to find possible solutions
Agree on practical recommendations to assist the ESCWA member countries to improve their statistical capabilities in the area of international merchandise trade statistics according to international standards.

E. Language

The meeting will be held in Arabic; simultaneous interpretation from English to Arabic and vice-versa will be available.

F. Date and Venue

The workshop will be held during the period 28 October - 2 November 2007 at
Radisson SAS Hotel, Amman - Jordan (address: Al-Hussein Bin Ali Street,
Tel:  +962 6 5607100, Fax: +962 6 5663108)

G. Administrative Arrangements
See annex

H. Contact Person

If you have any questions regarding this workshop please contact
 
Ms. Fathia AbdelFadil
Team Leader 
Statistics Division
UN-ESCWA
Fax : + 961 1 981 501
Email: abdelfadil@un.org>

Ms. Zeina Sinno
Statistics Assistant
Statistics Division
UN-ESCWA
Fax : + 961 1 981 501
Email: sinnoz@un.org

Ms. Amal Nicola
Administrative Assistant
Statistics Division
UN-ESCWA
Fax : + 961 1 981 501
Email: nicola@un.org