The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) organised the Conference on “Capacity Building in Statistics” on 8 November 2013 in Ankara, Turkey under the Phase III of Upgrading the Statistical System of Turkey Programme (USST), a project financed by the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Turkey. The Conference was attended by the senior officials of the Turkish Government, EuroStat, EU Delegation to Turkey, and Project Consortium Partners. The Centre was represented thereat by Mr. Atilla Karaman, Senior Researcher.

After the Opening Session, the USST Programme which is an EU Funded Programme which aims to assist Turkey on its implementation process of pre-accession strategy in the field of statistics was introduced. The programme is managed by TurkStat as the main beneficiary of the Programme. The main objective of USST Programme is to upgrade the Statistical System of Turkey, according to EU standards on the methodology and quality of compiling and processing statistical information. The programme provided support to TurkStat and other main data provider organizations in Turkish Statistical System by means of consultancies, training of staff and procurement of supplies. This support has been received in the frame of sub-projects on all areas of official statistics; national accounts, agriculture, environment, business, demography and other social sectors.

The USST Programme consists of three consecutive phases with a total budget of about €24 million. The First Phase was implemented between January 2003 - March 2007 and the implementation period of Second Phase was between January 2007 and November 2009. USST - Phase III is implemented under 2009 Programming of Instrument for Pre-Accession 1 Component (IPA-I) Transition Assistance and Institution Building Component. USST III is planned as complementary to previous programmes USST I and USST II.

USST III is composed of the below listed six sub-projects; each of which foresees consultancies and training activities as inputs.

• Improvement of Business Register System
• Improvement of Social Statistics
• Improvement of Environment Statistics and Accounts
• Improvement of Macro Economic Statistics
• Improvement of Business Statistics
• Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening of TurkStat

The presentations on the Evaluation of Upgrading the Statistical System of Turkey Programme were delivered by the GOPA and EU Delegation to Turkey. The brief statements on the USST III were made by EuroStat, UNECE, World Bank, and ESO. The Conference was finalised by the presentations on the Turkish Statistical System including Social Statistics and Administrative Registers, Business Statistics, and National Accounts and Environmental Statistics.

For more information on the USST Programme, please visit:

http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/arastirmaveprojeler/uluslararasi/pg/pg_Ab_giris.html