The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UN SIAP) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), is hosting a three-day regional workshop on “Data Ethics, Governance, and Quality in a Changing Data Ecosystem” from 14 to 16 July 2025. The event, with an investment of over Rs 276 million, brings together senior statisticians from 16 Asia-Pacific nations and reflects India’s leadership in building collaborative and ethical data systems.

Participants include Chief Statisticians and Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) from Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. Esteemed guests such as Mr Sonam Tenzin (Bhutan), Mr Gogita Todradze (Georgia), Ms Aishath Hassan (Maldives), Mr Batdavaa Batmunkh (Mongolia), Mr Sonny Harry Budiutomo (Indonesia), and Mr Elias dos Santos (Timor-Leste) are contributing their expertise to enrich regional dialogue.

The workshop is being organised for the first time by the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), the central training body under MoSPI. It marks a major milestone in India’s commitment to advancing statistical capacity and governance across the region.

Structured around four key themes—redefining the role of NSOs, modernising institutional frameworks, assuring quality in official statistics, and adopting modern production architectures—the workshop includes breakout discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions to foster innovation and regional learning.

The goal is to equip NSOs with the tools and strategies needed to stay credible and relevant amid fast-evolving data ecosystems. Post-pandemic challenges and the rise of alternative data sources have underscored the urgency for disaggregated, timely, and reliable data to support sustainable development goals.

Emphasising South–South cooperation, the workshop promotes shared experiences to address common challenges in modernising data systems. By embracing new technologies and aligning with global standards, participating nations aim to create a trustworthy statistical framework for policymaking.

Inaugurated by Dr Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, the session featured dignitaries such as UNRC India’s Mr Shombi Sharp; Dr Shailja Sharma, Director, UN SIAP; Mr Gabriel Gamez and Mr Matthias Reister from UNSD; and MoSPI’s Shri P R Meshram, Shri K B Surwade, and Dr J S Tomar. They highlighted the evolving role of data in governance, pressing issues of ethics and transparency, and the future of statistical stewardship.

Dr Garg stressed the need for trust-based frameworks, standardisation, and interoperability in national data systems. He reaffirmed India’s role in supporting statistical capacity across the Asia-Pacific region, including pioneering the subnational SDG indicator framework.

Mr Shombi Sharp praised India’s contributions towards the SDGs, noting that many global targets remain off-track and called for intensified regional collaboration. Dr Sharma highlighted the ethical imperatives of the "Data Age" and expressed hopes for further partnership with MoSPI.

Following the inauguration, the workshop continued with technical and panel discussions, producing strategic insights and actionable recommendations for strengthening regional statistical systems.