The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, in the course of her mission to Japan, undertook a fist visit to SIAP at its premises in Makuhari IT-led Industrial District in Chiba on Friday, 20 March 2009.  The Executive Secretary was accompanied by Deputy Executive Secretary, Mr. Shigeru Mochida, and IT officer, Ms. Atsuko Okuda.

In her meeting with SIAP staff members, the Executive Secretary expressed her warm appreciation of their contributions to building the statistical capability of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. SIAP’s outstanding performance had resulted in its high standing among member States. The Executive Secretary fully recognized and appreciated that central to SIAP’s success were SIAP’s unique location in Japan and the continuous support that it received from the Government of Japan.

The Executive Secretary, in her guidance to the SIAP faculty, emphasized the continued need of many Asia-Pacific developing countries for further support in building their statistical capacity. In particular, the Executive Secretary drew attention to the Commission’s recognition of the fundamental role of official statistics in evidence-based policy- and decision-making. Furthermore, enabling member States to acquire strong technical capability in tracking national progress towards achieving development goals, including the MDGs, was a special area of focus for SIAP attention, as member States strove to protect development gains in the wake of the unfolding global economic crisis.

 
The Executive Secretary emphasized importance of SIAP staff members, under the leadership of its Director, to embrace the strengthened emphasis on team work – through fostering better mutual understanding with colleagues in the ESCAP secretariat in Bangkok, as well as in the regional United Nations system. This would form a firm foundation of coordination and collaboration for the delivery of even better services to member States.

In her briefing for the Executive Secretary, the Director of SIAP, Ms. Davaasuren Chultemjamts, echoed member States in underscoring the critical importance of the reestablishment of the Committee on Statistics in 2009, following a hiatus of seven years; the success of its inaugural session in early February augured well for the Committee as the most important Asia-Pacific regional intergovernmental forum for the promotion of official statistics, as well as the strengthening of ESCAP’s role in building the capacity of ESCAP members and associate member states in official statistics. The Executive Secretary was also briefed on the activities, performance and planned strategies of the Institute. The Director stressed the importance of contributions from the Government of Japan, not only the financial and administrative support provided, but also Japan’s advanced knowledge and skills in official statistics.

The Executive Secretary also met the Senior Official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the cooperating agency of the Government of Japan for the Institute. The Executive Secretary expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications for its generous and continuous support and sought its further cooperation. The Senior Official reciprocated the sentiments of the Executive Secretary, expressing his wish to continue the cooperation.

A short tour of the Institute left the Executive Secretary much impressed by its modern and clean office facilities and layout in the setting of a well-designed industrial and commercial complex with tall metallic buildings and green gardens.