Terms of Reference of the Committee for HRSM

1. Terms of Reference of the Committee for HRSM Suggested by the Turkstat representative of the Committee for HRSM

2. Terms of Reference of Comittee for Regional Harmonization of Statistical Methodology (RHSM) • Based on the high priority areas specified by ECO, the RHSM Comitte should determine the Key Statistical Indicators. High priority areas are as follows: • Trade Statistics – Intra-regional Trade Indicators . • Transport – Services/Connectivity/Infrastructure. • Energy – Energy Trade/Power Grids Inter-Connectivity. • Agriculture – Water and Drainage Water Management/Irrigation. • Industries – SME development, PPP, Industrial Innovation. • MDGs – Sustainable development indicators (Education, Health, Employment.)

3. Terms of Reference of Comittee for Regional Harmonization of Statistical Methodology (RHSM) • The comittee should work and determine whether the specified statistics cannot be disseminated due to the differences in the standard international classifications used to classify the data. Then the committe needs to agree on a classification that can be used in data dissemination for each product/key statistics (if a classification is needed to disseminate the data). • Key methodological areas (survey methods, sampling methods, key quality indicators for harmonization of statistics or for harmonization and dissemination of statistical indicators, should be specified by the Committee. •  Member countries need to nominate two representatives to the committee, one as main and one as a substitute.

4. Terms of Reference of the Committee for HRSM Suggessted by ECO Secreteriat

5. Suggested Draft Terms of Reference of the Committee for HRSM • The Document outlines the basic principles of the process of harmonization of regional statistical indicators which are specific for economic development of the ECO region. • The main focus of the work of the Committee will be to select a set of regional statistical indicators based on ECO-KSI. Such set shall directly meet the statistical requirements in the core activity areas of the ECO. • The Committee shall arrange the review of the selected set of regional indicators against the new international classifications, definitions, concepts, uses, and methodologies. • In fulfilling its objectives, the Committee shall ensure compliance of the regional harmonization process with best practiced principles and the proper linkage with international classifications. • The Committee shall be the focal point of the High Level Expert Group (HLEGM) for statistics and shall function effectively in periods between the meetings of the HLEGM to provide more flexibility in reacting to developments on international and regional processes of harmonization of classifications, definitions, conceptions, uses, methodologies. • A meeting of the Committee shall be in Member States. These shall be initiated upon formal announcement by any Member State during HLEGM about its willingness to host such a meeting. Organizational aspects of a meeting shall comply with ECO Rules of procedure. • The Members of the Committee shall be permanent, subject to re-nomination by their respective Member States. The Members shall elect the Chair of the Committee. • The Committee may be enlarged in its membership to consider a wider set of regionally harmonized indicators, shall the scope of economic activity of the ECO or its membership expand. • The mandate includes periodic reporting to the HLEGM on the outcomes of Committee work and development and review of the set of ECO regional indicators for compliance to new international standards. The enlargement of the Committee’s mandate, if any, shall be subject for approval of the HLEGM. • In its work, the Committee may avail of advice of Experts from ECO Roaster of Statisticians. It may also consult on issues pertaining to regional and international statistics harmonization with regional partners, including, SESRIC, EroStat, and project partner organizations.