Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The 40th meeting of the United Nations’ High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building (HLG-PCCB) for statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development beganat the headquarters of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in Riyadh. Heads of national statistical offices and representatives of regional and international statistical organizations, who are members of the group, are taking part in the meeting.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this major international meeting underscores the growing role of GASTAT in supporting global efforts to advance statistical data systems and enhance countries’ capabilities in the statistical domain. The meeting’s agenda includes discussions on enhancing integration across international statistical systems, developing national capacities for producing accurate and reliable statistical data, and exploring ways to expand the use of innovative statistical data.

GASTAT continues its preparations to host the 6th United Nations World Data Forum through the "Road to Riyadh” program, which spans a full year before the date of the event. The program features a series of workshops and panel discussions at the local, regional, and international levels, with the participation of experts and statistical institutions from around the world. It aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, strengthen partnerships, and ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of the forum’s outcomes, as it serves as a key platform for advancing global data and statistical systems.

Hosting the forum in Riyadh carries significant importance, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing leadership in advancing statistical systems, fostering international partnerships in the data field, and embracing cutting-edge statistical innovations, technologies, and global best practices to support shared objectives at the local, regional, and international levels.