Main contents start here

News Bulletin

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

13th East Asian Statistical Conference held in Tokyo

   The 13th East Asian Statistical Conference was held from 5th to 7th November 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. This conference was initiated in 1980 to promote the development of official statistics in the region through the informal sharing of experiences and ideas among the heads of national statistical offices.

   Chief statisticians and representatives from the following countries and international organizations attended the conference: Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, SIAP, and IAOS.

   Under the overall theme of challenges for the future, based on each office's experience and the current status of official statistics, the following three topics were discussed:

   i) Economic statistics including the Economic Census and Business Register

   ii) Lessons learned from the 2010 Round Population and Housing Census Program

   iii) Challenges facing each National Statistical Office

i) Economic statistics including the Economic Census and Business Register

   This topic covered the use of comprehensive censuses and Business Register. The sessions referred to the use of administrative data for supplementing or replacing the census or surveys. In addition, the sessions brought up methods of covering new establishments, and addressing non-respondents.

ii) Lessons learned from the 2010 Round Population and Housing Census Program

   This topic covered the developments of the respective countries for improving response rate. This session referred to various improvements such as simplifying the survey method and publicity activities.

iii) Challenges facing each National Statistical Office

   For this topic, all participating countries presented and discussed issues such as establishing and revising statistical system and statistical plan, utilizing administrative data, and promoting online survey in respective national statistical offices.

   In conclusion, participating countries renewed the importance of continued cooperation among countries in the region and to share experience for improving official statistics.

Social Programs

   As part of the conference, a reception was hosted by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications on 5th November and by the Director-General of SBJ on 6th November. On 7th November, the participants went on an excursion around Tokyo, taking an opportunity to get a taste of the history and culture of Japan.

Top of this page