Anguilla participated in the recently concluded virtual workshop, held over a 6-week period, on International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), Revision 4. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) partnered with the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD) to deliver the workshop which comprised of six modules relating to all areas to increase and improve the correct use and application of this international classification. These modules were delivered by Mr. Ralf Becker – Head of the Statistical Capacity Management Section of the UNSD. The training commenced on 16th June 2020 and concluded on 21st July 2020.
ISIC is an international reference classification of productive activities which is used worldwide as a classification of economic activity in the economic statistics field. Its main purpose is to provide a set of activity categories that can be utilised for the collection and reporting of statistics according to such activities. Classifications, including ISIC, are systems of languages used in the communication about, and statistical processing of, the phenomena under review. They divide the universe of statistical data into categories that are as homogeneous as possible, with respect to those characteristics that are the objects of the statistics in question.
In May 2019, the Statistical Services Unit (SSU) of the OECS carried out an assessment on the use of international statistical classification systems in the NSS of each Member State. The findings suggested that in order for NSS to function effectively and efficiently, it requires not only a legal framework and harmonised methodologies, but also a common language – statistical classifications used across the National Statistical System (NSS). It was against this background that the OECS Commission partnered with the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD) to conduct training in the use of ISIC Rev. 4.
In August 2017, the Anguilla Statistics Department started efforts to introduce the use of ISIC across the National Statistical System for use in Ministries, Departments and Boards. In September 2018 the Executive Council endorsed the recommendation that ISIC be used across Government-wide systems including Board.
The scheduling of the workshop by the OECS provided the ASD the opportunity to invite a wide cross-section of participants from various Government Ministries, Departments and Boards, such as the Inland Revenue Department, Ministries of Finance and Economic Development and the Anguilla Social Security Board, to participate in the training.
The main aim of the workshop was to improve the NSS ability to function effectively and efficiently, by introducing this common language.The workshop included presentations on ISIC Rev. 4 and comparisons with previous revision, the correct application of the ISIC coding, the continuous maintenance and updating of the classifications – as well as other important areas which provided participants with insight into the language. Participants were all required to complete assignments that prompted group discussion.
The Anguilla Statistics Department expresses it gratitude for the opportunity to participate – and the participation of colleagues from Anguilla in the workshop to the OECS and Mr. Becker. We trust that the information shared with the Anguilla NSS participants will help to ensure their support in the production of quality administrative data produced within the respective entities.
Participants from other regional countries namely, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines within government Ministries, Departments and Boards, such as the Inland Revenue Department, Ministries of Finance and Economic Development and Social Security/National Insurance Boards, also attended the virtual workshop. All members of the Anguilla Statistics Department seized the opportunity to participate in the training.
- Press Release
