The overall objective of the Twinning project is to increase capacity among local operators to collect, process, harmonize, analyze, publish and disseminate business statistics measuring the performance of the private sector/SMEs in Azerbaijan.
The Twinning Consortium is led by Statistics Finland with Statistics Lithuania and Statistics Netherlands acting as Junior Partners. Additional expertise will be given by Statistics Denmark and The Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd (HAUS).
The three components targeted by the Twinning project are reflected in the “State Programme on Improvement of Official Statistics in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2018-2025” strategy document for developing the national statistical system to better respond to international challenges, improving the provision of statistical data related to sustainable development goals through the expansion of administrative data usage, human capacity building and strengthening the material and technical base in the field of statistics. By entering into this Twinning instrument, the SSC of Azerbaijan will further expand its international cooperation in the field of statistics and the Government’s commitment of approximation to the European standards. This, as well as the strengthening the modernization of the SSC is also noted in the EU Activity plan with regard to Azerbaijan (4.5.5 other main fields - Statistics).
This twinning project is aligned with the Eastern Partnership goals to create conditions for accelerating the political association and economic integration and by supporting reform processes. Responding to demands made by the users, such as statistical information on the SME sector and better-quality SME statistics, require both the will and ability to develop and enhance the services of a national statistical office. The SME component of the Twinning project focuses directly on providing SME statistics to decision-makers forming policies.
The “Strategic Roadmap on perspective of the national economy” identifies statistics as a national priority. The SSC has already taken major steps in implementing international best practices, standards and principles of official statistics preparing the SSC well for this twinning project. The SSC’s priorities are being aligned with the current developments inside the European Statistical System (ESS).