Oman Hosts ESCWA Statistical Committee’s 17th
Session

Al Jabal Al Akhdar, 8 September 2026
(ONA) — The Statistical Committee of the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) today began its 17th session in the Wilayat
of Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The Sultanate of Oman is represented at the three-day
session by the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

Participants in the session include
heads and representatives of national statistic offices in Arab countries and officials
from the United Nations and Arab, regional and international organizations, in
addition to experts and specialists.

Dr. Rania Al Mashat,
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the ESCWA,
said, “This ESCWA session is being held at a time when the need is increasingly
arising for reliable, timely, well-documented and comparable data in the backdrops
of the rapid economic and social transformations, the digital revolution and
the challenges posed to statistical systems through conflicts, disasters and
displacements.”

Dr. Rania stressed that such challenges
give rise to new opportunities to enhance the capacity of statistical systems
to respond to different conditions. She noted that the current phase of
implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers an opportunity
to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For his part, Dr. Mustafa Saad
Badawi, Head of the Population Statistics and Censuses Sector in the Arab
Republic of Egypt, said that statistical work is undergoing rapid transitions
that extend beyond technology. These developments, he observed, cover the
nature of demand for data, its sources and uses and the environment in which
national statistical agencies operate.

Dr. Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani,
CEO of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, said that the
Sultanate of Oman’s hosting of the ESCWA Statistical Committee’s 17th
session reflects Oman’s commitment to consolidate Arab statistical cooperation
and exchange expertise and experiences in a manner that ultimately leads to
more integrated, flexible, and responsive statistical systems that are capable
of adapting to rapid changes.

Al Barwani pointed out that the
rapid progress in artificial intelligence, big data and digital resources is
opening up broad vistas for statistical institutions to develop data
collection, processing and analysis, in addition to accelerating the production
of indicators. He also highlighted the Sultanate of Oman’s experience in using
modern technology and artificial intelligence in implementing the AI-powered
Household Income and Expenditure Survey project.

— Ends/Bishara