The third session of the ASEAN Community Statistical System (ACSS) Committee has adopted enabling mechanisms for comparable ASEAN statistics, clearer policies and guidelines on data sharing, confidentiality and enhanced dissemination and communication of ASEAN Statistics.

According to a press release issued by the ASEAN Secretariat on September 16, the session took place in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei from September 10-12, during which the heads of the national statistical systems of the ASEAN member countries agreed on the group’s statistics development direction to ensure the relevance to the ASEAN Community and at the same time contribute to the global and regional statistics development.

Accordingly, the ACSS Committee approved the outcomes of the Mid-Term Review of the ACSS Multi-Year Action Year 2011-2015 and discussed the draft 2016-20 ACSS Strategic Plan and the draft ASEAN Communication Strategy.

At the meeting, the Task Force on International Merchandise Trade Statistics was transformed to a Working Group on International Merchandise Trade Statistics, and the Task Force on Statistics on International Trade in Services to a Working Group on Statistics on International Trade in Services in order to facilitate the development and harmonisation of trade in goods and trade in services statistics.

This year’s event was chaired by Deputy Director General of the Brunei Department of Economic Planning and Development Haji Abd Amin bin Haji Hashim and attended by the heads of the national statistical systems of the ASEAN member states, the ASEANStats, and representatives from international organisations and ASEAN’s dialogue partners.

The next session will be held in Nay Pyi Taw , Myanmar in September 2014.-VNA