Presented by Mrs. Isatou Sarr Gambia Bureau of Statistics Banjul The Gambia, w/Africa UNECA, ADDIS ABABA 5 TH -7 TH OCTOBER 2011

 MANDATE OF EXTERNAL TRADE SECTION  DATA SOURCES  DATA PROCESSING  DATA DISSEMINATION  CHALLENGES

 External trade statistics under the Gambia Bureau of Statistics is Mandated to :  collect, compile and process trade data  analyze and disseminate external trade data  Provide data to policy makers, investors and other data user base on their needs

 Gambia Customs and Excise Department Now under Gambia Revenue Authority is our main source  Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) for the exports of groundnut)  Gambia fisheries Department for the export of fish)  Radville farm for the exports of fruits and vegetables  The individual cashew exporters just to name a few.

 Data verification using text pad  Send errors to customs if any  Import data to eurotrace software  Errors generated after importation are corrected using the error processing wizard in Eurotrace  The derived data sets are upgraded

 Data is generated in various forms using COMEXT stand alone  Example of tables generated  Trade summary(Total imports, exports and re- exports  Direction of trade imports and exports  Imports and total exports by regional groupings

 Data is disseminated by publication on quarterly and annual basis  Dissemination on Gaminfo which was launched early this year.  Dissemination on the GBOS website on quarterly and annual basis

 The main challenges are:  Quantities are not correctly recorded by Customs  Delay in getting data from other sources  Lack of capacity in terms of trained personnel. computers and other equipments are urgently needed to upgrade the Trade Statistics Unit.

 Plans are on the way to link GBOS to the ASYCUDA++ server at the Gambia Revenue Authority to ensure time data extraction. Technical assistance is required on short-term basis I thank you very much for your kind attention