Thursday, May 26 2005 17:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: India today (May 26, 2005) called for development of a framework for the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Forum for Cooperation in Statistics (SFCS) to facilitate exchange of statistical data for mutual benefit of member countries.

''In the region, we can learn many things from one another. There are things, which we can share for our mutual benefits. And there lies the need for a framework for SAARC Forum for Cooperation in Statistics,'' Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the first meeting of Heads of Statistical Organisation of SAARC member States.

Stating that the SAARC statistical community understood and spoke in the language of scientific statistical methods, he said that the community understood only one culture, that of development of reliable and comparable database.

''It is my firm belief that the statistical community of SAARC region, should sing in a uniform tune of harmonised statistical concepts, standards and methodologies,'' he said.

With the growing need for data relating to many emerging areas, statisticians of SAARC region must work collectively in addressing the new conceptual issues. ''These are not for a particular country or nation. It is for the entire region.''