Regional Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Noumea, 27th - 30th November 2012

Objective is to bring together the key people involved in the production of IMTS (above mentioned) and they are the data providers, the users, the compilers and the development partners, to discuss how each can contribute towards the production of reliable and timely IMTS.

The workshop is faciliated by SPC/SDP and the coordination from other agencies.

Most participants attending are two representatives from each different Pacific Island Countries from the National Statistics Office and the Customs Department.

Attendance: American Samoa, CNMI, Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.  Agencies: Secretariat of the Pacific Communtiy (SPC), Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Pacific Islands Forum Trade (PIFS), Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC), Statistics New Zealand, United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO).

Below: Marcellus Mau from Nauru Customs with Ramrakha Detenamo from Nauru Bureau of Statistics 

Nauru launches its first MDG progress report

Nauru’s first progress report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) was launched in Oct 24th 2012 following broad consultations locally and with development partners. The Nauru National MDG report – Status Progress 1990-2011 has been made possible by the efforts of the Nauru MDG Taskforce, working under the Ministry of Finance and closely guided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP Environment Program Analyst Ms Emma Mario read remarks on behalf of UNDP Fiji Resident Representative, Mr Knut Ostby offering his congratulations to the Government of Nauru on producing its initial national report. Mr Ostby reiterated the importance of the eight Millennium Development Goals that were universally agreed in 2000 by world leaders to tackle poverty across its many dimensions. In response, Nauru’s acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Michael Aroi thanked Mr Ostby for his continued encouragement and for mobilizing UNDP technical experts to assist and provide guidance to the Nauru MDG Taskforce. He also thanked Patrick Tuimalealif’ifano from UNDP and Ms Tatiana Prokhorova from the UN Joint Present Office for developing the first draft of Nauru’s MDG Report. “The Nauru Progress Report 1990-2011 is the result of broad consultations with decision makers at all levels, as well as the general public, parliamentarians, the media, Government, UN agencies and other development partners, the private sector and NGO’s. “This report provides the baseline of where Nauru is at now in regards to Nauru’s progress on the Millennium Development Goals targets . “It will be a useful document to guide Government and policy makers in their decisions in developing activities for accelerating Nauru’s progress towards achieving its MDG targets by 2015,” Mr Aroi said.

The Progress Report aims to inform the people of Nauru about progress on the MDGs and to identify what more can be done to achieve both national and millennium development priorities as articulated in the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) 2005-2025.

MDG citation: MDG 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger MDG 4 - Reduce child mortality MDG 5 - Improve maternal health MDG 6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases MDG 7 - Ensure environmental sustainability MDG 8 - Develop a global partnership for development.  The MDG’s remain a high priority for the government of Nauru and is committed to translating this at the household level▪

Note: Copies of the report will soon be distributed to government departments, schools and state-owned entities but in the meantime copies may be obtained from the Statistics Office