From March 4 to 7, 2025, the 56th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission took place in New York, attended by over 160 representatives of national statistical offices from various countries, as well as delegates from 50 international organizations. During the session, delegates discussed global trends in statistical activities and key directions for the future development of statistics.

Among the most significant outcomes were the adoption of two major resolutions: on the 2025 System of National Accounts (SNA 2025) and the World Program on Population and Housing Censuses 2030. The session also highlighted the need to develop internationally agreed standards for data governance, including under the framework of the UN Global Digital Compact. The UN Statistical Commission called for the creation of a dedicated working group to develop such standards and a unified terminology for handling global data.

Head of the Bureau of National Statistics, Maxat Turlubayev, spoke at a meeting organized by the World Bank and the International Statistical Program, presenting Kazakhstan’s progress in using mobile positioning data to compile statistics on tourism and migration. Kazakhstan continues to develop cooperation with the Estonian company Positium to create algorithms and statistical indicators based on mobile operator data. Additionally, Kazakhstan is actively working on signing agreements with telecom operators for the formation of tourism and migration statistics.

During bilateral meetings, Maxat Turlubayev discussed prospects for further cooperation with colleagues from the United Kingdom, Turkey, Russia, China, the Republic of Korea, and other countries. Particularly, an agreement was reached with Rosstat on signing a Roadmap covering 14 areas of cooperation. A visit by Bureau specialists to Turkey is planned for March 2025 to receive consultancy on creating a virtual data provision platform.

“We actively develop cooperation with international partners and exchange experience with leading global statistical services. This helps us not only improve our methodologies but also implement the best international practices”, noted Maxat Turlubayev.

During negotiations with the leadership of the OECD, issues related to the Review of Kazakhstan’s national statistical system and the next steps toward obtaining the status of an Associate Member of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy were discussed. Kazakhstan continues its collaboration with China’s National Bureau of Statistics and plans a visit by Kazakh specialists to China in May 2025.

In preparation for the 105th anniversary of statistical activities in Kazakhstan, Maxat Turlubayev held negotiations with representatives of the CIS Statistical Committee, UNECE, and other international organizations to discuss participation in the Regional Statistical Forum, which will be held as part of the World Statistics Day celebrations.