TrainForTrade online course and webinars on international merchandise trade statistics 2024

The development of a sound statistical system is key to the implementation of evidence-based policies and to the emergence of an open and unbiased dialogue between stakeholders and policy makers. Consequently, it is an essential tool of both economic performance and social cohesion.

This is all the truer when trade negotiations are under way and when countries have to understand and precisely assess their offensive and defensive interests in this context. In such a situation, public authorities have to define a global strategy and to translate this approach into specific negotiating positions. Statistics are a key tool in this process. They allow the sharing of a diagnostic of the current situation between all national stakeholders and a clear understanding of the national interests.

This course comes as a response to several demands for technical assistance in the compilation of International Merchandise Trade Statistics and directly addresses the aims of Goal 17 of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. This course has been developed and produced jointly by UN Statistics Division, UNCTAD, and the World Trade Organization. It has also benefited from the close collaboration of the Inter-Agency Task Force on 'Statistics of International Trade and Services'.

Objectives

The global objective of the e-learning course is to provide more easily accessible and rather complete training material for those involved in the collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of International Merchandise Trade Statistics

The main goals are to enhance statisticians' ability to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS, define best possible data sources, set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems, and enhance statistics compilation processes. Furthermore, the course would communicate the importance of quality, metadata, timely dissemination, and links to economic analysis and national policy objectives. The project would guide trainees on how to better use the internationally available guidance, especially the IMTS Concepts and Definitions 2010 and the related Compilers Manual.

Programme outline

Each module includes interactive assessments and links to communication tools for online interaction. Every module will consist of a participant’s manual with a video summarizing it, a forum and tests. Participants are expected to spend between 4 to 6 hours per week studying the material and participate in the forums.

The 6 distance learning modules are:

1. Conceptual Framework
2. Institutional Arrangements
3. Production and Compilation
4. Metadata and Quality
5. Dissemination and Analysis
6. New Areas of Work

The course will be conducted through TrainForTrade’s distance training platform. In this platform participants will have access to manuals, multimedia presentations, module exams, opinion surveys and forums created for each module for discussions with the instructor and other participants.

Follow-up webinars will be organized in the last, seventh week following the e-learning course for a duration of 90 minutes to cover topics related to the course. These topics will be determined during the e-learning course.

Technical requirements

To be able to participate in the course participants need:

• A computer (tablet or smartphone) with headphones or loudspeakers, a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) and Acrobat Reader.
• Internet access
• A valid email address

Target population

Primary target are trade data compilers from (depends on countries):

• National Statistical Office (NSO)
• Central Bank
• Ministry of Trade
• Customs Administration

Secondary target trade practitioners include:

• Trade negotiators
• Trade statisticians
• Trade analysts / Economist (reporting indicators)

These practitioners may come from:

• Ministries of Foreign affairs, Agriculture, Transport, Energy,
• Chamber of Commerce, Industry
• NGOs
• Academics

Registration

Interested individuals should self-register to the course before 4 March 2024 by following these steps:

For the English course:

1. Go to https://tft-reg.unctad.org/en
2. Select International Merchandise Trade Statistics 2024 (IMTS)
3. Use the access code "2024.IMTS"

For the French course:

1. Go to https://tft-reg.unctad.org/fr
2. Select Statistiques du commerce international des marchandises 2024 (SCIM)
3. Use the access code "2024.SCIM"

Please note that if you do not have an account on the registration platform yet, please create it first by clicking the following link https://tft-reg.unctad.org/en/register, providing your details and following instructions on the screen.

There is some issue in accessing document path, Please contact to Site Admin

There is some issue in accessing document path, Please contact to Site Admin