RIYADH — Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to early coordination with international partners to ensure alignment with the global statistical agenda and strengthen integration between national and international data initiatives. This was stated by Mohammed Al-Rshaid, vice president of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) while addressing the 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, held at the UN headquarters in New York from March 3 to 6. Al-Rshaid headed the Saudi delegation to the conference. The session brought together heads of national statistical offices from around the world. Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its commitment to strengthening its contribution to the development of international statistical work and supporting efforts to modernize the global statistical system. During the meetings, the delegation highlighted Riyadh’s preparations to host the Sixth United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) in November. Al-Rshaid emphasized GASTAT’s leading role in advancing the statistical sector, outlining three strategic pillars that underpin its development efforts. These include digital transformation and artificial intelligence through the integration of AI and Geo-AI technologies into statistical operations under an ambitious roadmap extending to 2030; knowledge leadership through spearheading the Arabic translation of the System of National Accounts 2025 to support the harmonization and advancement of statistical practices across the Arab region in line with international standards; and innovation in monitoring development through the launch of an integrated interactive system for managing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) data, ensuring efficient monitoring of indicators and meeting international requirements through an advanced methodological approach. On the sidelines of the session, GASTAT participated in a specialized side event on “Data Governance” in its capacity as co-chair of the data governance working group established by the commission. During the event, the vice president reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting the development of comprehensive data governance frameworks in official statistics and to strengthening the role of national statistical offices within national and global data ecosystems, thereby enhancing the quality, reliability, and sustainability of data. The event featured a high-level panel discussion with members of the working group and several heads of national statistical offices. The discussion explored key challenges and opportunities in data governance and reviewed the latest international practices for developing effective regulatory frameworks that enhance integration between data producers and users. In addition, the GASTAT delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with several international organizations and national statistical offices to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and exchange technical expertise. The United Nations Statistical Commission is the highest decision-making body for international statistical standards and for monitoring progress on the SDGs. Its mandate underscores the importance of strengthening international cooperation to develop more integrated and resilient statistical systems, particularly considering the accelerating digital transformations shaping the global data landscape.
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