RSSeNEWS to be determined...

Statisticians in the Asia-Pacific region have discussed how to raise pubic awareness of statistics on socio-economic trends. The meeting 'Strategies for Achieving Effective Data Communication' agreed that better communication of statistics is essential in gaining public understanding and acceptance of development policies.

The meeting in New Delhi was attended by the heads of 26 national statistical offices. Delegates discussed improving the flow of both data and contextual information; what any data represents, how it was collected and how it was to be used in planning.

The Director General of India's Central Statistical Organization , Shri S.K. Das, discussed work to raise awareness of the statistical organisations active in his country. He described the new National Academy of Statistical Administration, the statistical systems it is building, and its role encouraging international cooperation and the sharing of important information.

The meeting was organised by the Central Statistical Organisation of India and the UN Statistical Institute of Asia-Pacific. Under its auspices, organisations in the region have been working together since 2002 to improve the use of statistics in the planning of economic and social development.