1. CARICOM TRADE IN SERVICES STATISTICS (CTIS)PROJECT June-December 2016
Regional Training Workshop
November 21 to 25, 2016 by
Lucilla Lewis, Lead Consultant

2. DATA SOURCES BOP DATA SOURCES ITRS Enterprise Surveys
Migration and tourism statistics
Household expenditure surveys eg. weights for consumer prices, and information on residents’ expenditure abroad
Government and Central Banks eg. departure tax, landing and other port charges, expenditure on health and educational services provided and received
Data from International Agencies for AID recipients, and data from partner countries

3. INTRACTABLE BUSINESSES
Build up a relationship with population to be covered. Eg. by starting targeted radio and TV programmes.
Organise one-on-one educational meetings
Discuss with them why the information is needed and ask them for advise on what information can be given, in the context of what is required.
If all fails resort to making informed estimates.

4. QUALITY CONTROL QUALITY OF DATA
Estimates must always be revised in subsequent periods when new survey data becomes available
As much as possible include estimates for missing reports on the basis of previous years’ reports, and growth rates for comparable establishments in the sector, and growth rate in the sector
Reported data should be checked for internal consistency, consistency with data from related reports and with related data from other sources. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP PARTICULARLY FOR NEW SURVEYS.

5. PR/Education Programmes and Sensitisation of Respondents
Announcement of Survey in the local newspaper
Holding of press conferences to present estimates
Meeting with trade and professional associations to present sectoral analysis
IMPORTANTLY, sensitising management of responding firms, and senior Government officials of their role as stakeholders in the entire statistical systems
One-on-one informal training of individuals responsible for completing the questionnaire

6. Training and Resource Availability
Ongoing training for existing staff
Attachments for existing staff
Orientation sessions for new staff
Adequate staff complement and difficulty of retaining staff
FULL AWARENESS/INVOLVEMENT OF STAFF OF THE STATISTICAL DEPARTMENT IN ASSIGNMENTS UNDERTAKEN UNDER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES

7. THE BUSINESS REGISTER
Universe of businesses in comprehensive business register
Generate the register of FDIs
Out of Register of FDIs generate register of FATS
If necessary draw out a representative sample by stratifying businesses by size: number employed, sales revenue

8. SUMMARY OF APROACHES TO IMPROVE RESPONSE RATE AND COVERAGE FOR COMPILING STATISTICS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SERVICES
Assignment of responsibility for maintaining register of businesses as an important function
Commencement of new and specific enterprise surveys (eg. for Foreign Affiliates)
Specific questionnaire/interview surveys (particularly for intractable and informal sector)
Encouragement of formation of Trade /Industry and Professional Associations
Sensitisation/training of respondents
Improvement of estimation methods

9. Ensure that Legislative provisions are adequate with confidentiality clauses
Reassure respondents of strict enforcement and adherence to confidentiality provisions in the legislation
Maintain contact, have interviews/questionnaires and discussions with establishments below the survey threshold to get a feel for estimating the volume of their business, compared to that of respondents.

10. APPROACH FOR ENSURING THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY STAKEHOLDERS
MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDE
National Governments and their policy advisors
Researchers
Regional Organisations (CARICOM Secretariat among others)
International Organisations
Data providers
others

11. APPROACH FOR ENSURING THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS
Details of Plan
Formalising of interagency relationship between the CSO, Central Bank.
Agreeing on who will have responsibility for compiling what and by when, and assigning specific persons at each institution
Agreeing on a date to present the compiled statistics to key stakeholders
Agreeing on a targeted date for publishing the statistics on trade in services compiled

12. END