GCC Statistical Centre Signs Development and Administrative Arrangement with Eurostat

In a step towards highlighting increased levels of inter-agency cooperation and knowledge sharing between GCC Member States and the global statistics community, the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC Stat) signed an agreement with Eurostat, the official statistical body for the European Commission. The Director General of the GCC Stat, H.E. Sabir bin Said Al-Harbi signed the agreement with Mr.Walter Radermacher, Director General of Eurostat in an official ceremony held at the headquarters of the GCC Commission to the United Nations in New York on March 02, 2014.

H.E. Sabir bin Said al Harbi, Director General of GCC Stat commented on the significance of this accord. He said, “The aim of the agreement is to co-operate, establish international standards for statistics as well as improve the comparability of statistical information between Eurostat and GCC Stat. In addition to sharing information, this will also advance the coordination of international statistics-related activities and technically support the national statistical systems guaranteeing well rounded reported and holistic developmental figures. We are pleased to be signing this agreement and are confident that it will add immense value, especially at the foundation stage of GCC-Stat Centre.”
“Eurostat is an internationally recognised organisation that plays a key role in securing statistical co-operation between international agencies and organisations,” He added.
The signing ceremony was attended by their Excellency’s the Undersecretaries of Statistical Centres of GCC states, and their Excellency’s the representatives of Oman and UAE at the United Nations, and the GCC Commissioner to the UN as well as a number of GCC mission representatives.
Headquartered in the Sultanate of Oman, the GCC Statistical Centre was founded in June 2011 to serve as a common official centre of statistics and data for the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC).
The GCC Stat was approved by the GCC Ministerial Council in September 2011 and its Charter was officially endorsed in December 2012 by the GCC Supreme Council, comprising of heads of member states: United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait.
Eurostat plays an active role in the statistical co-operation between international agencies and organisations. Eurostat provides support to non-EU countries and non-EU institutions that are looking to approximate their official statistics to EU and International statistical standards. As comparable, reliable and comprehensive data series are developed, they enable evidence-based decision-making, development planning and progress measurement.