Over 1900 participants improved their trade statistics skills
TrainForTrade has positively impacted the skills and knowledge of 1940 participants from 166 countries in trade statistics. The six-week online course on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS), held from March 3 to April 13, aimed to make the gathering, organizing, analyzing, and sharing of trade data accessible and engaging.
This course, delivered in English and French, provided dedicated support and enthusiastic moderators throughout. It featured six informative modules and an interactive webinar.
The training enhanced statisticians’ ability to apply the most recent internationally agreed recommendations on IMTS, identify the best possible data sources, establish adequate collection systems, and refine statistics compilation processes.
The largest participant groups came from the Philippines, China, Egypt, and Cameroon. These groups primarily included trade data compilers from national statistics offices, central banks, ministries of trade, and customs offices. 43% of the participants were women.
The IMTS course achieved an impressive 88% satisfaction rate among participants. Many participants expressed that the practical skills and knowledge they gained will be highly beneficial in their professional lives.
“I particularly valued the modules on data sources, seasonal adjustment techniques, and the integration of trade and business statistics, as they directly align with my work in economic analysis and development policy. I plan to use this knowledge to contribute to better trade data analysis in my current role and to inform broader economic growth and trade facilitation strategies,” commented Anitha Mukamuhire from Rwanda.
“The ability to interpret trade data effectively will be crucial for preparing statistical reports and policy recommendations. Furthermore, the emphasis on analytical tools and methodologies will enhance my ability to work with large datasets, ensuring more accurate and insightful analyses in future research,” noted Chad Louie Antonio from the Philippines.
“One of the most commendable aspects of the training was its emphasis on harmonizing trade data, integrating metadata and quality assurance, and ensuring data comparability across countries. These elements are particularly critical in today’s interconnected economic landscape,” thought Nadiia Fedorova from Ukraine.
During the interactive webinar, participants enjoyed many interesting and practical presentations related to the course topic. One standout was Ms. Maria Batlle from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, who shared insights on the “Rotterdam Effect.” When goods like bananas from the Dominican Republic pass through mega-ports like Rotterdam, they are often counted as EU trade – even if their final destination is Paris, not the Port of Rotterdam. It is a statistical twist that demonstrates why accurate data matters in policymaking.
The IMTS course is jointly developed and produced by UNCTAD, the World Trade Organization, and the UN Statistics Division. It has been organized annually since 2019.
