UN commission for Europe reaffirms support for Azerbaijan’s statistical development

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has reaffirmed its readiness to engage with Azerbaijan under its ongoing program of regular technical cooperation, with a particular focus on advancing statistical capacity and institutional development.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Third CIS International Statistical Forum in Baku, Tiina Luige, Director of the UN Statistical Division, underscored UNECE’s continued collaboration with member states across the CIS, highlighting the organization’s commitment to supporting the development of robust and reliable national statistical systems, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Tiina Luige stated that the UNECE maintains strong partnerships with all CIS countries in the area of statistical capacity building. She noted that, although there is currently no dedicated project specifically for Azerbaijan, the framework for regular technical cooperation remains open to all member states. According to her, countries are encouraged to submit formal requests for technical assistance, which the organization is prepared to consider positively.

Luige clarified that the realization of individual projects hinges on the availability of financial resources. Nonetheless, she emphasized that Azerbaijan is welcome to participate in the broader scope of UNECE initiatives, not only within the realm of statistics but also across other domains of cooperation.

She added that the organization is implementing a diverse portfolio of initiatives aimed at enhancing national capacities and expressed their willingness to explore opportunities for Azerbaijan both to benefit from and contribute to this work.

Moreover, Luige praised Azerbaijan’s efforts to leverage its national statistical system in support of sustainable development, suggesting that the country’s experience could serve as a valuable model for others in the region.

She concluded that Azerbaijan’s use of statistical data to inform its national development strategies is commendable and, in many ways, serves as a compelling example for other countries in the region that are looking to strengthen evidence-based policymaking.

By Vafa Guliyeva