The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ministerial Training Seminar on Digital Economy and the SCO Digital Economy Forum are held in Beijing (PRC), providing a platform for sharing experiences and demonstrating the latest advances in digital technology. The focus is on trends in the development of the digital economy, the system for forming data elements and the national approaches of member countries to collecting and disseminating data in this area.
The Republic of Belarus is represented at the events by the Deputy Chairperson of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, Natallia Tarasiuk, and the Head of the Transport and Information and Communication Technology Statistics Division, Tatsiana Maksimova.
Within the framework of the Forum, Belarus presented its experience in the field of measurement of digital economy, participated in thematic seminars and closed meeting of ministers of digital economy of SCO countries.
In her speech, Natallia Tarasiuk stressed the significant progress made by Belarus in developing national information infrastructure, state information systems and resources in recent years. “Within the framework of implementation of state programs implemented activities on computerization, informatization, digital transformation of industries, development of e-government. The regulatory legal framework and methodological approaches to measuring the digital economy are being adapted”, said Deputy Chairperson of the Belstat.
Special attention was given to the Belstat National Digital Economy Statistical Index, which includes 35 indicators grouped into five key clusters. “Indicators characterize the activities of organizations, the level of development of national information and communication infrastructure, as well as services provided on its basis, transformation of business processes. The system of indicators is not static, it is annually updated taking into account the change in international approaches and standards for monitoring the development of the digital economy”, stressed Natallia Tarasiuk.
Natalya Tarasyuk informed that today official statistical information in Belarus is based on the use of combined method of observations - both continuous and selective. This makes it possible to systematically assess the development of a country’s economy, the level of digital development of its industries, monitor the emergence of new processes and phenomena, make predictions and determine future prospects.
“In addition to the traditional methods of collecting information within the framework of public statistical reporting, we are constantly searching for new sources of data. So, Belstat implemented projects on the use of big data, actively used administrative data, introduced artificial intelligence to create interactive formats for presentation of information and optimization of communication with respondents and users”, she added.
Each country has different methods of monitoring the digital economy, but common approaches are needed to ensure comparability at the international level.
“Participation in the SCO events on digital economy underlines Belarus’ desire to develop a digital economy and willingness to share its experience. We hope that a model of open cooperation will be built on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. It is particularly important to deepen practical interaction in areas such as digital infrastructure, data collection and processing, including on new industries, digital skills training, since the high rate of digital development affects not only standard work processes, but also to the needs of key sectors of the economy in personnel and competences. The implementation of such approaches will allow us to jointly solve the challenges of digital transformation that we face”, summed up Deputy Chairperson of the Belstat.
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