In accordance with its 2016 Annual Work Plan and within the framework of Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme, SESRIC organised the training course on ‘International Trade Statistics' at National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE) of Republic of Benin on 29 November-02 December 2016.

The training course was conducted by Mr. Bernard NGUINGNANG, Head of the Economic Synthesis Division at the National Statistics Institute (INS) of Republic of Cameroon with the participation of relevant officials of INSAE.

As defined in the Classification of Statistical Activities (CSA Rev. 1 - October 2009; http://goo.gl/olg3Tz); International trade statistics– deals with statistics on all cross border transactions recorded in the balance of payments, includes topics like trade in goods and services, external positions and debt, foreign direct investment, foreign affiliated trade, tariffs, market access, foreign aid, development assistance, resource flows to developing countries.

The Training Course on 'International Trade Statistics’ included discussion activities with a focus on the following topics:

• Statistics on International Trade,
• Trade and the Balance of Payments,
• Customs Procedures,
• General Elements of Quality (Speed, Accuracy, Accessibility, etc.),
• Linking Customs Data and Business Statistics,
• Informal Cross-Border Trade and the Use of IMTS For Balance of Payments Purposes
• Uses of International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Case Studies,
• Dissemination of International Trade and Metadata Statistics and
• Some Recommendations on the Quality of Statistics

Sign up for an account at OIC-StatCom Forum (http://forum.sesric.org/) to join the group discussion on the Training Course on ‘International Trade Statistics’ in Republic of Benin available at: http://www.oicstatcom.org/event-detail.php?id=1614