UNCTAD has been active in providing knowledge development and capacity building programs to developing countries for over four decades. Its TrainForTrade (TFT) Program has been established some 20 years ago. With its dedicated platform and team, the Program has conceptualized, created and delivered e-learning projects on various subjects related to trade and development in many individual countries or regional centers, usually within wider scope capacity building undertakings. WTO has also been active in building trade capacity since 1995, in particular by providing trade related technical assistance, capacity building and developing e-learning courses. UN Statistics Division (UNSD) manages the development and maintenance on methodology of IMTS, including Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), Classification by Broad Economic Categories (BEC) and related correspondence tables. Furthermore, UNSD has been providing capacity building and technical assistances to countries through compilers manual, metadata survey, workshops and country missions with aims to support implementation of latest recommendations on IMTS.
As the United Nations’ focal point for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the related economic issues, UNCTAD compiles a wide range of data. The statistics are made public via UNCTADstat, the free online data resource encompassing more than 150 indicators and time series, with figures for individual economies and country-groups presented in a harmonized framework (http://unctadstat.unctad.org). The UNCTADstat features: i) Data Center allowing users to easily access, compare, reorganize and download data; ii) Country Profiles presenting a selection of most recent key economic statistics by country; iii) Inforgraphics library, a collection of key messages released to social networking sites from the published time series;and iv) Documentation, FAQ, and other supporting information.
IMTS is part of topics regularly discussed by Inter-Agency Task Force on International Trade Statistics (TFITS) (http://unstats.un.org/unsd/trade/taskforce). TFITS promotes the development of international standards and respective compilation guidance, systems and classification for international trade statistics. Furthermore, it coordinates training and capacity-building initiatives, especially in developing countries, to ensure uniform application of international standards and recommendations in the area of international trade statistics. The e-learning is considered part of capacity building activities, and it is very much supported.
Objectives
- Enhance ability to
- apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS,
- define best possible data sources,
- set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems,
- enhance statistics compilation processes.
- Value the importance of quality, metadata, timely dissemination, and links to economic analysis and national policy objectives.
- Master the use the internationally available guidance, especially the IMTS Concepts and Definitions 2010 and the related Compilers Manual.
- Identify changes included in the 2026 update to the international trade statistics manuals.
Target Population
Primary Target: Trade data compilers from (depends on countries):
- National Statistical Office (NSO)
- Central Bank
- Ministry of Trade
- Customs Administration
Secondary Target:Trade negotiators, statisticians, analysts / Economist (reporting indicators) from:
- Ministries of Foreign affairs, Agriculture, Transport, Energy, etc.
- Chamber of Commerce, Industry
- NGOs
- Academics
Duration
7-week e-learning course from 16 March to 3 May (6 hours per week)
2 follow-up webinars of 90 minutes on 5 May
Modules
- Conceptual Framework
- Institutional Arrangements
- Production and Compilation
- Metadata and Quality
- Dissemination and Analysis
- New Areas of Work
- Manual Updates
Cost
The courses are offered free of charge.
Registration
Follow these steps to register to the course:
For the English course:
- Go to https://tft-reg.unctad.org/en
- Select International Merchandise Trade Statistics 2026 (IMTS)
- Use the access code "IMTS.2026"
For the French course:
- Go to https://tft-reg.unctad.org/fr
- Select Statistiques du Commerce International des Services 2025 (SCIM)
- Use the access code "SCIM.2026“
