Presented byMrs. Isatou SarrGambia Bureau of StatisticsBanjulThe Gambia, w/Africa

UNECA, ADDIS ABABA5TH -7TH OCTOBER 2011

MANDATE OF EXTERNAL TRADE SECTION

DATA SOURCES DATA PROCESSING DATA DISSEMINATION CHALLENGES

External trade statistics under the Gambia Bureau of Statistics is Mandated to :

collect, compile and process trade data analyze and disseminate external trade

data Provide data to policy makers, investors

and other data user base on their needs

Gambia Customs and Excise Department Now under Gambia Revenue Authority is our main source

Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) for the exports of groundnut)

Gambia fisheries Department for the export of fish)

Radville farm for the exports of fruits and vegetables

The individual cashew exporters just to name a few.

Data verification using text pad Send errors to customs if any Import data to eurotrace software Errors generated after importation are

corrected using the error processing wizard in Eurotrace

The derived data sets are upgraded

Data is generated in various forms using COMEXT stand alone

Example of tables generated Trade summary(Total imports, exports and

re-exports Direction of trade imports and exports Imports and total exports by regional

groupings

Data is disseminated by publication on quarterly and annual basis

Dissemination on Gaminfo which was launched early this year.

Dissemination on the GBOS website on quarterly and annual basis

The main challenges are: Quantities are not correctly recorded by

Customs Delay in getting data from other sources Lack of capacity in terms of trained

personnel. computers and other equipments are urgently needed to upgrade the Trade Statistics Unit .

Plans are on the way to link GBOS to the ASYCUDA++ server at the Gambia Revenue Authority to ensure time data extraction.

Technical assistance is required on short-term basis

I thank you very much for your kind attention