Remarks by H.E. Mr. Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, at the panel “Implementing Digital Agenda: The Role of National Statistical Agencies”

05 March, 2019

It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to a panel discussion organized by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN within the framework of Armenia’s chairmanship in the Eurasian Economic Union.

It is symbolic that we are having this panel on the margins of the 50th session of the UN Statistical Commission, which also coincides with the 5th anniversary of the Treaty establishing the Eurasian Economic Union.

I am honored to introduce our distinguished panelists, and first acknowledge the presence of Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Board Member and Minister in charge of integration and macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

We are joined by colleagues from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Mr. Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of the Digital Government Branch, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Management, and Mr. Gozalov, Statistician at the UN Statistics Division.

I am also pleased to introduce representatives of the national statistical agencies –
Mr. Akylbek Sultanov, Chairman of the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan,
Mr. Sergei Egorenko, Deputy Head of the Federal State Statistical Service of the Russian Federation,
Ms. Irina Kangro, First Deputy Chairperson of the National Statistical Committee of Belarus,
Mr. Stepan Mnatsakanyan, President of the National Statistics Service of Armenia.

Digital agenda is an important priority of Armenia’s chairmanship and engagement with the Eurasian Economic Union. The government of Armenia is committed to embracing new technologies and digitization strategies to create knowledge-based platforms for accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development goals. New technologies, including digital technologies, are being increasingly used to improve the efficiency of public services and the day-to-day operations of the Government. To this end, the Government has embarked on a Digital Agenda, which aims to transform Armenia’s economy to a high-tech and innovation oriented one.

Armenia is committed to sustaining the positive dynamic of cooperation and integration within the Eurasian Economic Union, in line with the key priorities of Armenia’s chairmanship highlighted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier this year. Within our economic integration framework we welcome all efforts for leveraging existing and new partnerships, with other countries and regional organizations and arrangements intending to generate synergies utilizing available best practices.

A notable contribution in the area of digitalization was the Forum under the title “Digital Agenda in the era of globalization 2.0. Innovation Ecosystem of Eurasia” held in Almaty last month which was an important platform for high level deliberations on the creation and development of single innovation ecosystem, aimed at realizing technological potential of the member countries.

Today’s meeting provides a good opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved so far and to reflect on the challenges ahead, with regards to the transformative role of new technologies for our societies. These have served as a fundamental driver of change, with enhancing possibilities towards more inclusive and participatory systems. It is also the area that vividly demonstrates the most tangible progress we all have achieved throughout the transitioning process from MDGs to SDGs. A decade ago we spoke about e-government. Today, e-government is no longer a vision but a reality.

Armenia is committed to encourage further discussions on the role of innovation for sustainable development, which we see as particularly relevant in case of the middle income countries. The data recently published by the Global Innovation Index highlights that innovation, in fact, is not limited to the most advanced economies. According to the Index, Armenia continues to be classified as an “innovation achiever”, along with 16 other economies, who outperform in innovation, relative to their level of development.

Dear colleagues,

I hope that today’s meeting will provide a platform for exchange of views and experience, as a substantive input to the ongoing deliberations on the role played by national statistical agencies in implementing digitization strategies.

With this, I am very happy to pass the floor to Ms. Valovaya, who will take this conversation forward.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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