ResultsBased Management: CASE STUDY:

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UNITED NATIONS STATISTICAL INSTITUTE FOR ASIA
THE PACIFIC (SIAP) CHIBA, JAPAN
Results-Based Management CASE STUDY FOREIGN
TRADE STATISTICS of HYPOTHETICAL COUNTRY ASPAC
28 30 September, 2005
Putrajaya, Malaysia
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Current State of Foreign Trade Statistics in
ASPAC

• The state of compliance with International
  Standards in Foreign Trade (FT) Statistics is
  very low.
• The production process is not running as
  smoothly as it should because of the
• Lack of computer equipment and automation
  structure.
• Lack of qualified staff.

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FT Data Collection System

• Two sources of FT data collection in ASPAC
• Direct system the enterprises engaged in FT
  reports to NSO
• Indirect system customs documents based
  reporting system by customs authorities.

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Direct Data Collection System

• NSO use monthly questionnaire which contains the
  following figures
• Import country of origin
• Export country of destination
• Country code
• Commodity
• Commodity code
• Unit of measurement
• Import/export in quantity and value

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Direct Data Collection System (ii)

• NSO realizes and publishes foreign trade
  statistics on the basis of monthly questionnaire.
• There is no foreign trade of services statistics.

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Indirect Data Collection System

• Indirect reporting system based on customs
  documents.
• The main checks on the commodities are
• checks on weight
• checks on value
• country of import and export.

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Problems

• Two reporting systems produce two different data.
• The enterprise based statistics is incomplete
• No database of the firms involved in FT.
• The coverage of the
• enterprises in total about 50 - 60
• state owned enterprises about 90
• privately owned enterprises 20 - 30

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Problems (i)

• Two reporting systems use different methodologies
• Direct system captures the FT data at the date of
  issue of bills
• Indirect system collects data when the
  commodities cross the border.
• Lack of coordination among NSO and customs office
• No difference between general trade and special
  trade such as transit statistics

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Consequences

• Inaccurate information about the level, the
  development, the structure and the efficiency of
  FT.
• National Policy makers are not in a position to
  take state measures to improve the FT.
• FT figures are not comparable and do not meet the
  requirements of international organizations.
• Inaccurate figures in the SNA and the BOP.