OREANDA-NEWS. March 21, 2016. International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) and the Statistics Department held a workshop on “National Accounts Compilation Issues” in Beirut, Lebanon from March 14–17, 2016. The workshop focused on country specific issues and challenges identified by participants in compiling national accounts. International standards and best practices with regard to the compilation of national accounts were discussed, in particular, those related to the implementation of the requirements of 2008 System of National Accounts and their impact on estimating the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The interactive workshop facilitated extensive discussions and included practical exercises. During the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to identify potential areas for future METAC technical assistance support.

Officials from national statistical offices who are involved in the compilation of national accounts statistics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region attended the workshop. In total, 20 participants from eight countries attended. The countries represented included: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, and West Bank and Gaza.