1. Objectives of the Expert Group Meeting Giovanni Savio, UN-ESCWA Expert Group Meeting on National Accounts Cairo, 12-14 May 2009

2. Objectives 1.To establish a stable forum for exchange of views, consultation, discussion and decision on main issues for NA harmonization at regional level 2.To tackle relevant issues in SNA 2008, such as: a.Strategy at global and regional levels b.Technical challenges (classifications, constant prices and rebasing, back-recalculation, QNA) c.Other issues relevant at regional level (mineral exploration, FISIM etc.) and exhaustive estimation of NA, including informal sector treatment 3.To finalize an inventory of sources and methods of NA estimation in the region

3.  Actions undertaken by the ESCWA (with partners) in latest few years in NA  Regional Workshop on NA, Cairo, Dec. 2006  National Workshop on Estimation of NA at Constant Prices for Iraqi Officials, Cairo, Oct. 2007  Technical assistance through Regional Advisor in NA & ES since January 2007: 25 missions to 7 countries  Development Account Project on Informal Sector and Informal Employment  Future activities planned  Expert Group Meeting on NA & ES, 2011  From outcomes/recommendations of this EGM Actions undertaken and the future

4.  First day, 12 May 2009  Issue 1: Updating on recent development for SNA 2008, future steps, global implementation strategy  Issue 2: Assessment of NA practices in the ESCWA region (booklet on sources and methods)  Issue 3: Countries’ presentations  Second day, 13 May 2009  Issue 4: Main challenges (classifications, constant prices, back-recalculation and rebasing, QNA, other items)  Issue 5: Exhaustivity and the informal sector Agenda of EGM

5.  Third day, 14 May 2009  Issue 5 (contd.): Exhaustivity and the informal sector  Issue 6: Implementation strategy for SNA 2008  Issue 7: Evaluation and future steps, including recommendations Agenda of EGM