governmental statistical offices totheprivate sector andothergovernmental departments. 34.119 Theuseofcomputers forstatistical purposes isexpected toexpand ata rapidpaceinthenextdecade. Theintroduction ofnewinformation technologies, suchasstatistical networks, thedevelopment ofdatabasemanagement systems and theincreasing useofstatistical packages willhaveafar-reaching effect onthe workandstructure ofcentral statistical offices. 34.120 Amajorproblem insomeofthecountries oftheregionisthelackof in-depth analysis ofthedata,especially surveydata,collected bythestatistical offices. Another problem experienced bysomeESCWAcountries istheabsence of co-ordination between theproducers andusersofstatistics. 34.121 Theproblem ofstandardization touches uponawiderangeofsubjects in statistics. Continuous efforts are.needed atthenational andregional levelsto increase thecomparability ofdataproduced byESCWAmemberStates. 34.122 Theobjective ofthesubprogramme istocontribute tothedevelopment of timely andrelevant statistics intheESCWAregioninco-operation withnational, regional andinternational bodies concerned. Morespecifically, theobjectives include: (a)Thecollection, compilation anddissemination ofcomparable statistics on national accounts, prices, finance, industry, energy, external tradeandother economic areas; -30- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(b)Thedevelopment, collection, standardization anddissemination of environment andsocialstatistics, incl~ding thesituation ofwomenandother special population groups; (c)Thedevelopment ofsources ofpopulation statistics, including population andhousing censusei, civilregistration system anddemogr~hic surveys; (d)Thepromotion ofunified international concepts, definitions and classifications, especially thoserelated tonational accounts, international trade,industry, migration, environment andemployment; (e)Assistance inthedevelopment ofthecensus andsurveycapabilities of ESCWAmemberStates andinthecollection andanalysis ofeconomic andsocialdata obtained fromhousehold surveys andcensuses; (f)Theimprovement ofstatistics intermsofreliability, timeliness and comparability andapplication ofadvanced meansofcollecting, processing and disseminating economic andsocialstatistics intheESCWAregion. (b)Courseofactionofthesecretariat 34.123 Thefollowing activities willbeundertaken underthesubprogramme: (a)Statistical training innational accounts andonspecific subjects related toeconomic statistics inco-operation withregional institutes and organizations; (b)Collection anddissemination ofbasicstatistics intheeconomic and socialareasoftheESCWAregionthrough recurrent general orspecialized publications; (c)Setting upandmaintenance ofstatistical databasesconcerning various statistical areasforusebytheESCWAsecretariat andmemberStates, aswellasby international andregional organizations; (d)Organization oftechnical meetings onspecific topics,inco-operation withtheUnitedNations Statistical Office andregional organizations; (e)Provision ofsupport totechnical assistance activities, innational accounts, population statistics, dataprocessing andhousehold surveys inESCWA memberStates; (f)Publication anddissemination ofmethodological statistical manuals in Arabic. 34.124 Theabove-mentioned activities areofacontinuing nature, especially in thefieldofcollection anddissemination ofstatistics. However, someissues, suchastheapplication oftherevised SystemofNational Accounts and international economic classifications willreceive special emphasis inthefirst halfofthemedium-term plan. -31- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibrarySUBPROGRAMME 15.TRANSPORT ANDCOMMUNICATIONS (a)Objectives 34.125 Thelegislative authority forsubprogramme 15derives fromGeneral Assembly
**Analysis**
The text discusses the development of statistical systems and the collection of data in the ESCWA region, with a focus on economic statistics, national accounts, and population statistics. It also mentions the importance of standardization, reliability, and comparability of statistics. These themes suggest that the text is primarily related to economic development and statistical analysis.

**Category**
Economic development, Science and technology