Changes in Communications: Experience of the National Statistics Office of Georgia Work Session on the Communication of Statistics May 2013 Berlin, Germany

Vision People need more statistical information about the world they live in Statisticians help all users use and understand statistical products correctly Statisticians should think about simplification of this process People are not always adept at understanding statistics by themselves How to simplify this process?

Introduction ● Data dissemination We will focus on the following issues: ● User engagement ● Statistical Databases

Statistical Databases Online questionnaires: Minimizing different risks Supervisors and personal statisticians Simplification of the process for respondents (businesses ) In 2010, Geostat prepared and approved IT Development Strategy.

Statistical Databases Receiving information from external government sources Automatic data receipt Improved data quality control Database for administrative sources:

Data Dissemination ● Android application Channels for data provision ● PC-AXIS ● Press releases ● Microdata dissemination system (NADA ) ● Business portal (under development)

Data Dissemination ● Fixed time (11 am) for data dissemination on the website ● Advance release calendar for statistical data Press releases :

Data Dissemination PC-AXIS ( with support of Statistics Sweden) ● For data users who can obtain statistical information in desired format (excel, csv, charts ) ● For customers who need to handle multidimensional tables efficiently ● Diverse possibilities for editing, selecting variables, rotating, sorting, exporting etc.

Data Dissemination Android application ● Possibility to select data by category, sub-category and by period ● Android cell phone application currently contains data on external trade, foreign direct investments, prices, demography, agriculture, business statistics, national accounts. ● The application allows user to view most updated official statistics provided by Geostat online.

Data Dissemination Microdata dissemination system (NADA) (with OECD support) ● Increased quality and diversity of research ● Improved reliability and relevance of data ● Reduced duplication of data collection activities ● Improved visibility of the institution as their data becomes more frequently used and is more readily accessible

Data Dissemination Business portal ● Possibilities to create statistical information reports in different ways ● Ability to group selected data by different criteria ● Ability to search any published statistical data

User Engagement Tools of user engagement : Web forum at Geostat website Social media such as facebook

Working meetings with business associations User Engagement Evaluating public awareness of Geostat Cooperation with various NGO-s and Universities

User Engagement More than 1500 downloads of the android application during the first month after the application was launched ● Number of users of official statistics in Georgia is growing: Number of visitors to the Geostat website increased by 40% in 2011 in comparison with 2010 and by 14% in 2012 in comparison with As a result: ● NSO became more transparent ● User engagement improves trust towards NSO

Thank you for your attention!