Compilation of Import Statistics in Lao PDR

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• Compilation of Import Statistics in Lao PDR

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INTRODUCTION

• This presentation provides a brief discussion on
  following subjects
• - data collection of Import statistics
• - organizations involved
• - computer data processing and timing of
  publication

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INTRODUCTION (contd)

• - classification of Commodities.
• - valuation
• - the problems in producing the Import statistics
  
• -and the under coverage of the data.

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Collection of Import statistics in Lao PDR

• The current system for production of Lao
  official statistics is decentralized in the sense
  that sector statistics are collected and compiled
  by the respective Ministry.
• The NSC collecting of Import data from the
  Customs Department.
• Up to 2000 Customs Department has provided the
  Import data by quarterly to NSC

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Collection of Import statistics in Lao PDR
(contd)

• From 2001 during the period of 25-30 of each
  month the Customs Department release the data to
  the NSC and the Central Bank by monthly, but
  one-month after reference month (1-month lag)
• The NSC receives Import-export data from Customs
  Department by diskettes.
• It gets the data by detail of commodity type and
  by countries.

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Organizations involved

• There are four organizations involved in
  collecting and compiling foreign trade
  statistics
• - The Customs department at the Ministry of
  Finance is responsible for the statistical
  system, collecting and compiling basic data.
• - The NSC is responsible for the trade statistics.

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Organizations involved (contd)

• - The Central Bank is responsible for the balance
  of payment statistics.
• - The Ministry of Trade responsible for import
  license statistics.
• At present there are 31 customs border
  offices-located all over the country. The tasks
  of those offices are to inspect and control all
  the shipments of goods entering and leaving the
  country.

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Computer data processing and timing of publication

• Before the fourth quarter year 2000 the
  Statistics Division at the Customs Department
  used Excel for data entry and data processing,
  but since the fourth quarter year 2000 system for
  data entry and SPSS for producing monthly and
  quarterly reports.
• The NSC is currently using the Excel program
  compilations and computations

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Computer data processing and timing of
publication (cont)

• And SPSS for producing tables for quarterly and
  annual, publications.
• For timing of publication, the NSC publish only
  one time per year and some of the main
  commodities.

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Classification of Commodities

• The NSC uses the Harmonized Commodity Description
  and Coding (HS) for classifications of
  commodities. The HS is adopted at the border
  points.
• The HS is logically structured and divided into
  twenty-one sections.
• Within the twenty-one sections there are 99
  chapters. Chapter 77 is reserved for possible

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Classification of Commodities (contd)

• future expansion. The last chapter 99 are set
  aside for special use by individual countries.
• These is six digits is sub-heading for
  classifying the product in the HS.
• We are using the HS and connecting with ISIC and
  CPC.
• Classification according to Broad Economic
  Categories ( BEC) has not been used.

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Valuation

• The Trade statistics are reported in US dollars
  and revalued to kip. Trade statistics is
  published valued by the domestic currency.
• Imports are valued on a Cost, Insurance and
  Freight (CIF) basis.
• Exports are valued on a Free On Board (FOB) basis.

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Data collection and processing problems

• Problem of HS coding (the description of
  commodities is inconsistent with certain HS code)
• Time consume since we do not appropriated
  software package for data processing
• Shortage of staff
• Other sources is not available / not accessible
  ( particularly trade statistics of
  neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam,
  Cambodia, China and other countries)

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Quality problems

• Lao PDR has long borders with Thailand and
  Vietnam. Border trade with in particular Thailand
  flourishes and seems to be little captured in the
  statistics. The border trade is both legal and
  illegal.

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Under coverage in publications

• Import statistics by countries origin and
  destination.
• Import statistics by Customs break down by
  province, checking point
• Import statistics by monthly
• Import statistics by quarterly
• Retained imports
• Index numbers

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• THANK YOU
• VERY MUCH
• FOR YOUR ATTENTION