Jeddah: The 44th session of the Permanent Technical Committee on Statistics of the Arab League was held today in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of representatives from Arab statistical institutions and relevant regional and international organizations.
Review of Statistical Activities and Regional Cooperation
This meeting addressed several items on the committee's agenda, including the follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations from the 43rd session and a review of the activities of the statistical sector and data management of the Arab League. The statistical activities of Arab statistical institutions and areas of cooperation among them for the year 2026, along with reports and recommendations from sub-committees, were also discussed.
During this meeting, several statistical experiences and initiatives presented by Arab countries were reviewed. The Sultanate of Oman provided a report on the implementation of the household income and expenditure census using artificial intelligence, as well as the mechanism for conducting the digital economy census. Additionally, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduced an AI-based classification platform, and the Kingdom of Morocco also presented a report on migration statistics.
Development of Sustainable Development Goals 2030
This meeting also examined the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the environmental indicators related to these goals, as well as developments regarding censuses and the use of modern technologies in statistical work. Furthermore, the work of the team responsible for preparing a unified strategic model for the development of Arab statistical work, the 2027 work plan for the statistical sector and data management, and statistical coordination with specialized Arab organizations were also reviewed.
In this context, rapid developments in data and artificial intelligence technologies provide vast opportunities for statistical institutions to develop work methods, accelerate the production of statistical indicators, and enhance their efficiency. The importance of strengthening Arab cooperation in exchanging successful experiences and utilizing modern technologies to support development needs and decision-making was emphasized.
The agenda also included a discussion on a proposal to develop a unified Arab measurement in the field of human security, as well as a regional project to assist Arab countries in transitioning to the System of National Accounts 2025 (2025 SNA). This meeting is set to conclude with a discussion on reports and recommendations.
The Permanent Technical Committee on Statistics is one of the specialized committees within the framework of the Arab League that plays a significant role in enhancing statistical coordination and cooperation among Arab countries, discussing technical issues and common methodologies, and providing recommendations for the development of the Arab statistical system.
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