Bahrain participates in OIC Statistical Commission session in Ankara
Ankara, Oct. 4 (BNA): The Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), took part in the 14th Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Statistical Commission (StatCom), held in Ankara from October 1 to 3.
The event was organised by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) and attended by Duaa Sultan, iGA Deputy Chief Executive for Statistics and Population Registry.
The meeting brought together senior officials from member states’ statistical agencies, representatives of international organisations, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), as well as a number of experts and practitioners in the fields of statistics and digital transformation.
Participants discussed the OIC Statistical Action Plan 2026–2030, which constitutes the strategic framework for advancing joint statistical work over the next five years. Technical sessions covered the role of data in supporting sustainable energy transitions and policies.
The countries also reviewed their work on monitoring indicators related to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (ensuring quality education), highlighting challenges and opportunities. They discussed means to leverage digital transformation and advanced technologies to enhance the performance of statistical agencies.
The commission underlined the importance of national statistical agencies in supporting development and decision making, highlighting the role of innovation and digital transformation in improving the quality and efficiency of official statistics and promoting cooperation and capacity building among Islamic countries.
The session reviewed the recommendations of the 13th meeting held in October 2024 and approved the programme for 2026–2030. A number of technical topics were also discussed.
Deputy Chief Executive Duaa Sultan emphasised that Bahrain’s participation reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting specialised international forums and contributing to shaping the future of statistics both regionally and globally. She said the Kingdom’s engagement embodies its dedication to developing statistical systems in line with international standards.
She noted that the meeting would enhance integration in statistical work among member states, particularly in the areas of statistics and digital transformation, underlining the importance of this approach in light of rapid global technological progress.
Held under the umbrella of the OIC, the annual StatCom meeting serves as a platform for exchanging best practices and technical expertise in official statistics and for building partnerships with relevant international organisations.
Since the last StatCom session in October 2024, the Secretariat has conducted 34 statistical activities, including 17 training courses, 16 international meetings and workshops, and one webinar, with around 1,300 participants. The Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the iGA and other relevant entities, took part in most of these events.
