Hanoi (VNA)ꦉ -  Vietnam’s statistics sector has made constant efforts in increasing quality of statistical information and popularizing policy communication methods, heard a seminar on statistics and policy popularisation, organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi on June 19. 

Director General of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Nguyen Thi Huong said that the trust and responsible use of statistics information by the press will give strength to the GSO to continue improve their works. According to Huong, the seminar aims to give journalists an insight into the methods to collect and compile statistics, thereby contributing to creating social consensus and improving communication works on policies. She affirmed that the statistics sector has made great efforts in improving the quality of statistical information and popularising statistics in various forms to expand the number of data users both at home and aboard. Statistical data is also used as a basic for the National Assembly and provincial People’s Councils to promulgate resolutions on socio-economic development of the country and localities every five years. Nguyen Thu Oanh, Director of the GSO’s Department of Price Statistics, shared that the method of calculating the consumer price index (CPI) applied since 1995 has followed international standards, the same as the method adopted by most countries in the world. Besides, the price investigation network has covered a wide range from traditional markets to commercial centres and retail supermarkets. At present, there are about 40,000 price investigation points across the country, which are business places operating stably and belonging to diffect economic sectors, Oanh said.  Do Thi Ngoc, director of the General Statistics Department under the GSO, said the GSO has compiled in-depth analysis reports for users, which serve as materials for journalists. To increase quality of statistic works, Duong Thi Kim Nhung, Deputy Director of the Department of Statistical Methodology, said that in the first months of 2023, the office has focused on perfecting institutions and laws as the basis for statistical activities. Regarding international cooperation, Nhung said that the department is collaborating with international organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and statistical offices of other countries like Bangladesh, Italy, Japan, Denmark, among others to strengthen cooperation, exchange and learn from experience. In addition, Nhung said that the ADB is sponsoring the JFPR TA 6856 project of the GSO on development of new statistical resources and capacity building in new data technologies and resources. The GSO is also working with the Danish Statistical to implement a project on supporting Vietnam to improve the quality of official statistics. The Republic of Korea’s Statistical Office has officially implemented the project on supporting the GSO to improve the quality of official statistics, build a national statistical database, and train staff for a period of four years from 2022-2025./.