Vice President calls for accurate data in adopting development policies

VICE President U Henry Van Thio said yesterday that the government needs reliable statistics in formulating development policies of the country.

The Ministry of Planning and Finance hosted a meeting of the Data Accuracy and Quality of Statistics Committee in Nay Pyi Taw, attended by the union ministers, regional ministers and officials.

“The common goal of every country is national development despite adopting different practices in political and economic systems. These countries have clear laws and frameworks for adopting policies, planning, implementation, and assessment and monitoring on the plans,” the vice president said at the meeting.

To make the present liberal statistical system more stronger, Myanmar enacted the Statistics Law on 22 January 2019, and the draft for bylaw has been submitted to the Office of the Union Attorney-General. Meanwhile, the Central Statistical Organization was implementing the National Strategy for Development of Statistics by keeping the NSDS’s action plan as a living document. As a result, it was found that cooperation among the member clusters have become stronger.

Myanmar has issued a report on main index in June 2018, and a report on poverty in June 2019 based on the data in 2017.

The vice president also said it was important to ensure that the statistics were correct and consistent, and that the relevant committees at the states and regions were to collect updated and quality statistics.

He also compared the development goals of other countries and the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018-2030) that would be evaluated by a national indicator in terms of improvement and effectiveness as the final draft of index has been finalized.

The 40 per cent of Sustainable Development Goals are put into 284 indicators of the draft. Relevant ministries, departments, non-governmental organizations and the development partners were collaborating for the emergence of a National Indicator Framework.

He also advised the relevant departments to share their statistics and data to be able to develop accurate and consistent statistics through harmonious definition and concepts among these departments.

The vice president suggested it was necessary to produce statistics on natural disasters, covering measures on emergency responses and actions and long-term prevention plans, while the departments concerned were urged to collaborate to win recognition by the international organizations on the official data of Myanmar in their publications.

He also said “Accurate and qualified statistics can help to develop trust between the government and the people and with the international community. The quality statistics could support the work of development planners and researchers working in the socio-economic fields.”

Vice Chairman of Central Committee Union Minister U Soe Win explained about preparation for the draft of Statistics bylaw, and cooperation with private sector and relevant organizations in making the statistics accurate and in working for development of the statistical sector.

Next, Union Ministers U Thant Sin Maung, U Thein Swe, Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Dr Myint Htwe, U Han Zaw and Dr Win Myat Aye, the deputy ministers, a member of Nay Pyi Taw Council, ministers of regional and states governments, and the heads of statistical working committees discussed measures being undertaken by their ministries to ensure accuracy and quality for the statistics.

Finally, Vice President U Henry Van Thio made concluding remarks on the work of the committee meeting.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar