Statisticians from across the Region are in Guyana for a training programme on statistical data and metadata eXchange (SDMX). The workshop, hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), is being held at the Bureau of Statistics office in Georgetown. It began on Monday, 22 April, and will conclude on Friday, 26 April.

At the opening, Mr. Halim Brizan, Director of the Regional Statistics Programme, explained that the SDMX is an international initiative that aims to standardise and modernise the way statistical data and metadata are exchanged between organisations, systems and countries. It plays a critical role in the efficient collection, compilation and dissemination of official statistics, he said.

SDMX has already been introduced in the Region and Mr. Brizan pointed out that the implementation of the technical statistical standards of the SDMX framework, and the use of IT infrastructure and tools would benefit regional and statistical offices by contributing to overall quality assurance and improving business processes within those offices.