1. Sharing Trade Data in the International Community
Using SDMX
Sharing Trade Data in the International Community
Mark Pollard
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

2. Objectives
The ‘seed’ was the recommendation from the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting in Bangkok in March 2009, that “a more integrated statistical view …[of international transactions statistics] ... including joint dissemination” be developed.
To share with you a project proposal for doing that.
To launch a pilot exercise to test the use of Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) for, initially, the exchange of TiS data and metadata.
To consider the suitability of SDMX for expansion to further IT collection and dissemination.
To seek your support for this proposal, which is led by the TAGS team at the OECD, and your input to help refine the proposal being made.
To invite expressions of interest among member countries of the partner organisations to join the project.
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

3. Current Status Well co-ordinated, but fragmented collection.
Clear requirements provided by each IO.
Variety of requirements of the IO.
Scheduled and ad hoc.
Different periodicities.
Data available at different time.
Potentially using different sources.
Some ‘pull’ some ‘push’.
TF work on a single inventory that sets out all the needs.
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

4. Expectations A single, integrated collection ‘portal’ that:
improves efficiency of provision;
improves efficiency of sharing;
improves quality of data provided;
improves accessibility of data;
provides supporting metadata;
eases the uploading and downloading of data (to accommodate ‘pull/push’).
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

5. Anticipated benefits - countries:
A tested standard format for the reporting of international transaction statistics, that can be re-used.
Validation at point of completion.
Provides output that can be replicated for use in other data collection and deliveries.
A format that can be further developed to share data nationally as well as internationally e.g. website dissemination.
A format that can be further developed as a tool for the collection of data from businesses by National Statistical Agencies.
Re-enforces international comparability.
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

6. Anticipated benefits - International Organisations
A tested standard format for the reporting of international transaction data, that can be offered to providers world-wide, and re-used.
A format that will provide (part) validated data.
A format that can be replicated for use in other data collections.
Re-enforcement of international comparability.
A system that will minimise the need for collector intervention in the data collection process
A system that will improve efficiency of data sharing – i.e. one collection accessed by all IOs.
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

7. Project Proposal A pilot involving ‘several’ countries.
Process of country engagement involving assessment of current capability.
Progressing simultaneously, at different speeds, overlapping.
Supported by OECD technical resources.
Providing training and support to MCs.
Creation of full SDMX system documentation for TIS requirements.
Testing of data and metadata exchange.
Feeding in to other pilot countries.
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

8. Project Outcomes To report within 15 months of the project start date.
To prove the concept.
A report of the pilot with recommendations on the suitability of SDMX for collection, sharing and dissemination of initially, Trade in Services data and ultimately International Transactions data.
To produce, in partnership with the pilot Member Countries, the full suite of generic SDMX output files relating to TiS (data and metadata), to allow replication and customisation in member countries.
Recommendations for expanding toward full adoption across member countries.
Recommendations for adoption across the full range of IT data requirements.
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris

9. Thank you for your attention
Action on YOU
Your questions
Your input
Your expressions of interest…
either now, during the course of this week, or in correspondence …PLEASE.
Thank you for your attention
WPTGS 16th – 18th November 2009, Paris