UN-ESCWA will open its Regional Workshop on National Accounts at 9:30 am on Tuesday 19 December 2006 at the Ramses Hilton Hotel in Cairo. This workshop will continue until Thursday 21 December.

Experts from United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and UN-ESCWA in addition to representatives from Central Statistical Offices and Central Banks in the region will participate in this workshop, which aims to establish a regional forum to exchange views, practices and consultancies and analyze current and future issues in relation to the implementation and update of 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA) in the UN-ESCWA region.

The workshop will focus on major issues, from both theoretical and practical perspectives, especially emerging updates on the 1993 SNA, the means to implement this system in the region, and future anticipated challenges. In addition, experiences and practices of member countries will be presented in order to share experiences and promote regional cooperation to face challenges to the implementation of the 1993 SNA.