Reliable statistics are necessary for the development of BiH

Statistical institutions play a key role in the development of a sustainable and reliable statistical system, as well as data production in line with EU standards, it was emphasised at the official presentation of the twining project “Support to the Reforms of the Statistical System in Bosnia and Herzegovina” on 16 February in Sarajevo.

The project is funded by the European Union in the amount of EUR 1.5 million, and will enable statistics of Denmark to work in partnership with four beneficiary BiH institutions over the next two years to produce statistics in BiH that will be harmonized with EU standards.

Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, emphasised long-standing EU support to development of BiH statistics, as well as the importance of reliable statistical data for the country’s economic development.

“The EU has been supporting the development of the statistical system in BiH for more than 15 years, through the procurement of IT equipment and the provision of technical assistance that was developed and implemented by experts from European countries. Reliable statistics are a precondition for the development of any society, any country and the effective work of its governments,” said Ambassador Wigemark.

The project will seek to strengthen the statistical system in BiH through the improvement and development of institutional capacities in the domains of economic and business statistics.

Director of the BiH Agency for Statistics Velimir Jukić noted that through this type of projects the European Union is helping countries on their way to become EU members and highlighted the importance of the project in harmonising BiH statistics with European standards.

This project will, among other things, contribute to meeting BiH’s obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and further harmonisation of BiH’s official statistics with the EU,” said Jukić.

This twinning project will contribute to strengthening the coordination of the national statistical system in BiH and enable the production of more accurate and reliable statistics in various statistical domains such as: macroeconomics, business, financial, agricultural and social statistics. The main areas covered by the project are: regional accounts, balance of payments and international investment position statistics, statistical business register, structural business statistics, producer prices in construction and in services and tourism statistics.

 

Europa.ba