Annex-II _Statement_

							                                                                           Annex II

       2nd Meeting of the ECO High Level Experts Group on Statistics

                 24-25 September 2009, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

               Statement by H.E. Acad.Mirgand Shabozov,
Chairman of the State Committee on Statistics of the Republic of Tajikistan


          Distinguished Delegates,
          Ladies and Gentlemen,

          It is an honor and great pleasure for me to inaugurate the 2 nd High
Level Expert Group Meeting, to be first to take place in Dushanbe, the capital city
of Republic of Tajikistan.

          The meeting has a mandate, endorsed by the 19th Regional Planning
Council of the Economic Cooperation Organization in its Meeting held on 12-14
January 2009 in Tehran. It occurs in the implementation of the ECO Calendar of
Events as approved for the year 2009 in consultation with the Government of
Republic of Tajikistan.

           Among the participants present here, we have the distinguished Head
of the Central Statistical Organization of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Mr.A.Ghafoori, Vice President of TURKSTAT of Republic of Republic of Turkey Dr.
U. Gundogan, the Delegation of the Statistical Center of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, the esteemed Representatives of Republic of Kazakhstan and Republic of
Uzbekistan. Also, the Representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development of
Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, the Representatives of
international organizations, including FAO Regional Statistician Mr. M. Barre and
UNICEF Representative Mr. Mr. F. Khamidov, are participating in the meeting.
We hope that Mr. A. Mukhdoom, Head of Pakistan’s Federal Bureau on Statistics
who had registered for the meeting would also join us in the course of the
deliberations.

           In the beginning of my statement, let me highlight that ECO has a long
history of the Organization, which in 1985 transformed into its present structure
from the then Organization of Regional Cooperation for Development that had
been founded on 12 March 1977 based on Izmir Treaty signed by the three
founding member states, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan. Later, in November 1992,
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan acceded to ECO.




                                                                                 1
           Since then, the State Committee on Statistics of Republic Tajikistan is
actively cooperating with ECO at various levels and forums, including at the
meetings of Heads of National Statistical Offices of ECO members (HNSO), High
Level Expert Groups (HLEG), and National Focal Points (NFPs) on Statistics and
Economic Research.

            Having mentioned our active cooperation with ECO, we would like to
express confidence stemming from the fresh impetus in the process of
implementation of various programmes and projects in ECO, including on
statistics and economic research.

          Today, the world has accumulated enormous amounts of statistical
data and information. Against this backdrop, the process of collection, sorting,
and selection of most useful data and information for policymaking is becoming
more complex.

          Timeliness, frequency and quality of a statistical product are one of the
core principles of Statistics to ensure derivation of an adequate picture of the
development and progress in the region. Common measurements that need to be
in use across the region to generate individual countries’ data are, in our view,
among the effective solutions for a harmonious and accurate statistics.

           The principle of mutually beneficial cooperation among NSOs to be
supported by the common regional identity and integrity will help member states
to achieve sustainable development and growth in the region for the benefit of its
nearly 350 million people.
           In this respect, the regional value of the Economic Cooperation
Organization is ever increasing.

          SPEAKING OF PROCEDURAL MATTERS, OUR MEETING WILL MOSTLY FOCUS ON
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION OF ECO NATIONAL
STATISTICAL OFFICES AND PLAN OF ACTION. WE WILL ALSO DISCUSS CAPACITY BUILDING
IN   MEMBERS   AS   WELL   AS   FUTURE   PERSPECTIVES   OF   ENHANCING   STATISTICAL
COOPERATION IN THE REGION.


          BEFORE I CONCLUDE MY STATEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY SINCERE
THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PREPARATION OF THE MEETING AND
THE PARTICIPANTS FOR THEIR INPUTS TO COME.


          LET ME EXPRESS A HOPE THAT THE MEETING WOULD BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND
FRUITFUL. FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS FOR WHOM THEIR VISIT TO DUSHANBE IS FIRST, I
WISH THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND OF TAJIKISTAN, WHICH IS MOUNTAINOUS BUT SUNNY,
WILL LEAVE WARM REMEMBRANCES.


          THANK YOU.


                                                                                  2
                                                                                            Annex II



  The 2nd High Level Expert Group Meeting of ECO National Statistical
                               Offices

                            Dushanbe, 24-25 September 2009

                                Statement by Ms. Bayan Adilbekova,
                  Director for Projects, Economic Research and Statistics of ECO


Excellency, Dr. M. Shabozov,
Head of the State Committee on Statistics
of Republic of Tajikistan,

Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

         A very warm welcome to all of you in this 2nd High Level Expert Group Meeting of ECO
National Statistical Offices. On behalf of His Excellency Secretary General, Ambassador
Mohammed Yahya Maroofi, I am conveying sincere thanks to the Government of Republic of
Tajikistan for hosting this important event. Allow me also to thank the ECO member states as well
as our partner international organizations for their participation. The presence of such distinguished
delegates promises fruitful discussion, productive deliberations and a positive outcome. I am sure
that this meeting will mark a milestone towards more effective statistics cooperation among the
ECO member states.

Distinguished colleagues,

         With the population hitting almost 7 percent of that of the world, and the combined
regional GDP of nearly US$1.2 billion, ECO has all opportunities at hand for a firm sustainable
development. In this regard, statistics has a recognized role to play, and an acknowledged relevance
to progress and development. It has an impact on every sphere of activity, every area of human
endeavour. Numerical facts, figures, and analyses are increasingly becoming central to all
calculations, to all measuring and monitoring. In the ECO, as a regional organization, statistical
data apply to different dimensions of trade and transport, energy, minerals, environment, industry
and agriculture, tourism, and health and human development. We need statistics to measure the
magnitude of challenges. Statistics assists decision-making. The more precise the statistics, the
higher the chances of success of our strategies, plans, and projects.

Distinguished delegates,

         The world is on a fast path to integration. Regions are organizing into the collective
groupings to maximize gains. Against this background, there is a greater need to measure progress,
to compare and compute economic transactions. There is an added need to follow common, agreed
indicators and, to that effect, harmonize our measures and standards. Without such harmony, such
integration and understanding, much of our shared information may not be possible to fully utilize.

        Delays are, at times, unavoidable. These may not necessarily cause an irreparable harm.
But in a field where time is of the essence, delays entail exponential damage. Statistics is one such
field. Our past neglect of this sector necessitates fast catching-up. We have no space to lose time,


                                                                                                    3
no room to be relaxed. We have to move with speed in order to implement our decisions without
further delay.

Dear colleagues,

         There are important proposals already discussed and awaiting implementation. More of
such proposals may come up for consideration in this meeting and in the ones to follow. We have to
prioritize them. Those that are more urgent must have a higher priority, must receive urgent
attention. We have to improve the quality and reliability of statistics. We have to employ modern,
scientific techniques. We should use state-of-the-art quality control instruments. Also, we should
promote innovative methods, more specific to the needs and conditions of our region.

        There is a natural link between statistics and information technology. We have to develop
and build on such a linkage. In this respect, the proposal of the Islamic Republic of Iran deserves all
the merit: it has been initiated at a right momentum. It received full support of all member states.
To this end, we have to strengthen such a network. It would provide a platform for exchange of
views, information and data.

          In addition, we would appreciate the support of our partner international organizations. We
need it to help accelerate implementation of the decisions and recommendations of this and future
meetings. Already, UNIDO, FAO, UNDP, UNESCAP, SIAP, ASEAN and SESRIC have been
supporting ECO’s programmes and activities very generously. We acknowledge it with thanks. I
hope their support and cooperation would increase further as we generate new momentum in
statistics cooperation.

       We have strong reasons to develop and promote such cooperation. We must press statistics
more and more into the service of our member states. It is a goal, which the ECO Secretariat will
be happy to pursue with you, hand-in-hand. I wish you all success with your deliberations.

         Before I conclude, I would once again like to place on record our profound thanks to our
hosts, the State Committee on Statistics of Republic of Tajikistan for their generous welcome and
excellent arrangements made for the meeting, and to the Government of Tajikistan for making this
event a success.

        Thank you.




                                                                                                     4