Memorandum of Cooperation: Rosstat and the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan have agreed on systematic interaction

The discussion on collaboration in various areas of statistics and the signing of the memorandum were the results of the meeting between the Head of Rosstat Sergey Galkin and the Chairman of the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan Dovletgeldi Amanmukhammedov, which was held on December 6-7 in Moscow within the framework of the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Russian-Turkmen Commission. Memorandum provides for the cooperation in such areas as the exchange of experience in censuses and other statistical research, digitalization of statistical production, improvement of statistical infrastructure, introduction of new tools and technologies for analyzing accumulated data, joint publications of analytical materials on various aspects of socio-economic development of Russia and Turkmenistan, professional development of statisticians in our countries. The special significance, according to the Head of Rosstat, is coordination and interaction within the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS countries.

Sergey Galkin noted the importance of cooperation between national statistical services and highly appreciated the professionalism of colleagues. Russian statisticians have been working together with the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan for years. In particular, national accounts development projects have been implemented, indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals have been monitored, statisticians of the two countries have jointly participated in international events under the auspices of the United Nations.

According to the Head of Rosstat, the development of statistical services should follow the logic of collecting and analyzing information that provides a basis for making effective management decisions by authorities and businesses. Sergey Galkin is convinced that statistical agencies should not become a museum of statistical data but are obliged to create value for society and the state. Our countries are developing, we strive to create strong working economies that contribute to improving living standards of our citizens. Therefore, the focus on calculating indicators that help to correctly assess the current situation and make decisions is the main task for our statistical services today.

“In this regard, it is necessary to introduce modern technologies for collecting and analyzing information as well as calculating indicators and apply methods for a deeper study of already accumulated databases”, – Sergey Galkin said. – “We are facing new challenges, including those related to global digitalization, as well as the transition of communications to online. Consequently, the question of how to reach the respondent is becoming more and more relevant."

"We are interested and ready to further develop cooperation between our organizations.
Population census is planned in Turkmenistan in the near future, and we will be happy to share our experience in application of advanced technological solutions, and ready to provide comprehensive support to our Turkmen colleagues," – Sergey Galkin noted.

Rosstat and the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan have already started developing a roadmap for cooperation for 2023 and 2024, which will be agreed and signed by the heads of statistical services of the two countries in the near future.

The Head of Rosstat emphasized the importance of joint work within the framework of the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS countries.

"It is essential to implement projects that will bring added value to all statistical services of the CIS countries. At the same time, it is important to rely on international standards and improve the quality of official statistics. An important step towards this could be the creation of a single operational information resource for CIS data," – Sergey Galkin said.