The 7th SAARCSTAT was inaugurated by Prof. Kithsiri Liyanage, Secretary to the Ministry of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs. Heads and delegates from SAARC countries; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and hosts Sri Lanka and delegates from the SAARC Secretariat in Katmandu attended the inauguration ceremony.
The main objectives of SAARCSTAT are to plan and undertake policy initiatives for comparable and timely statistics, harmonize classifications, concepts and definitions, adopt international good practices, promote :improvement in official statitlics, and promote human resource development.
The meeting is being held on the theme "Educational Statistics" with the intention of focusing attention on highly dispersed child education in the region and this is the first time the SAARCSTAT Meeting is conducted under a theme.
Last year the Meeting was held in Katmandu, Nepal where Sri Lanka was nominated as the host country of this year's meeting.
The maiden conference of heads of the National statistical organizations (SAARCSTAT) of the countries of south Asian region was held in Calcutta, lndia in 2005 with the view of enhancing regional cooperation on statistical affairs..
