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Saudi Arabia will host the 12th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Statistical Commission (OIC-StatCom). The meetings of this session will be held in the city of Jeddah and will last for two consecutive days October 3-4, 2023. The meeting will be attended by the heads of official statistical centers in the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This is the first time that the meetings of this commission are held outside the headquarters country (Turkey). Saudi Arabia's hosting of this session reflects its international status and its Arab and Islamic position, affirming its keenness to enhance communication and joint work among Islamic countries to provide statistical data for the support of development plans and exchange experiences among member countries. The 12th session of OIC-StatCom aims to develop the technical and scientific capabilities of statistical personnel in the official statistical agencies of member countries and exchange statistical knowledge and experiences to support the member countries in producing high-quality statistics, guided by specific objectives and principles in order to enhance solidarity and cooperation among Islamic countries. The agenda comprises of a number of activities meant to improve the production and dissemination of precise and updated statistical data in compliance with international standards and procedures. Additionally, efforts will be made to develop a strategic vision to improve the level of statistical systems, implement and monitor short, medium, and long-term plans to achieve this vision, and enhance the technical capabilities of national statistical agencies in Islamic countries.

The Permanent Technical Committee for Statistics of the Arab League held its forty-ninth meeting in Cairo on September 26-27 of this year at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League. The meeting was attended by delegations representing official Arab statistical agencies, as well as a number of specialized Arab organizations in the field of statistics. The delegation of Saudi Arabia was led by  Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics. During the sessions, various technical and administrative topics were discussed, including monitoring the implementation of recommendations from the previous committee meeting, highlighting statistical activities carried out by Arab official statistical agencies in the past period, as well as reports and recommendations from subcommittees. It is worth mentioning that the Permanent Technical Committee for Statistics aims to enhance Arab statistical capabilities, exchange experiences, information, and technical advice among member countries, and provide the necessary statistical data and indicators to serve the common Arab statistical work.

The General Authority for Statistics and the Family Affairs Council signed a memorandum of cooperation yesterday, Monday September 4, 2023. The memorandum aims to enhance integration between the two entities in their respective fields of expertise, establish a general framework for joint activities and tasks, and develop their institutional capacities to serve common interests and goals. The memorandum was signed at the headquarters of the Family Affairs Council in Riyadh. Dr. Fahad Al-Dossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, signed on behalf of the authority, while Dr. Maimouna bint Khalil Al-Khalil, Secretary-General of the Family Affairs Council, signed on behalf of the council. The memorandum highlights the exchange of information and data between the two parties - each according to its expertise - in areas of mutual interest, cooperation in issuing statistical publications related to families, exchanging support and technical and knowledge expertise in areas of mutual interest, as well as exchanging advice in the areas of expertise of each party. This includes exchanging research and studies, publications, and making it possible for the staff of both parties to participate in training courses, seminars, scientific conferences, and workshops related to the areas of mutual cooperation agreed upon.

The team of the project of transition to accrual accounting was recognized by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, for meeting the project's requirements and completing its main phases. This helped GASTAT to transit to the accrual accounting principles and be involved in the release of the first national unified financial center. It is worth mentioning that the transition to accrual accounting and the adoption of international accounting standards in the public sector are initiatives stemming from the National Transformation Program, which is adopted by the Ministry of Finance through its agency for financial and accounting affairs. The project will help provide complete, accurate, and timely information about the financial center, and results of the entities’ activities and cash flows. It will also enhance supervision over revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities, as well as develop financial departments in government entities and support decision-making processes.