«Statistics»: Enhancing the capacity of national systems to withstand and respond to crises

This came in a statement by Mohammed Al-Rashidi, Director of Commercial, Agricultural, Services, and Environmental Statistics at the Public Authority for Information, speaking to KUNA on Thursday, following his participation in the 17th session of ESCWA’s Statistical Commission in the Sultanate of Oman, attended by heads and representatives of statistical offices and agencies from Arab countries.

Al-Rashidi said that the current session of the ESCWA Statistical Commission concluded with recommendations emphasizing the need to expand the use of modern technology, artificial intelligence, and non-traditional data sources in the production of official statistics.

He added that a recommendation was adopted to establish the “Muscat Team,” focused on applying artificial intelligence techniques in the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, leveraging Oman’s experience in employing modern technologies and innovation to develop statistical work.

Al-Rashidi praised Oman’s experience in implementing the Household Income and Expenditure Survey using artificial intelligence, noting that these technologies offer significant potential to enhance data collection, processing, and analysis, improve the quality of statistical outputs, and accelerate the production of indicators.

Regarding the main topics discussed during the session, he clarified that ways to strengthen statistical work in the region were examined, focusing on governance, the use of modern technology and non-traditional data sources, information and communication technology statistics, digital development, and price statistics in the digital era.