The COMSTAT Data Portal Enhancing the Africa Information Highway Gabon 16 – 20 November, 2015

The COMSTAT Data Portal

Enhancing the Africa Information Highway

Gabon16 – 20 November, 2015


Outline:

Introduction Objective Statistical Domains covered Data Sources Data Update Data Challenges Conclusion

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Introduction: COMESA Membership

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1. Burundi2. Comoros3. Congo DR4. Djibouti5. Egypt6. Eritrea7. Ethiopia8. Kenya9. Libya10. Madagascar11. Malawi12. Mauritius13. Rwanda14. Seychelles15. Sudan16. Swaziland17. Uganda18. Zambia19. Zimbabwe


What is COMSTAT?

COMesaSTATistics

Online interactive database

Designed to serve as a central repository of all statistical data at

the Secretariat

Designed to disseminate statistics of various domains that are

critical for monitoring the performance of COMESA’s regional

integration program

Initially launched in 2006, to Secretariat staff

2007 opened up to the public and has undergone revisions with

support from TMSA and the AfDB4

Objective


COMSTAT was designed with an overall

objective of providing users with online

access to the statistical repository database of

the Secretariat

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Statistical Domains covered


The statistical domains covered in COMSTAT are:

Merchandise Trade Statistics Trade in Services Statistics Statistics on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) Infrastructure Statistics Harmonised Consumer Price Index (HCPI) Trade Integration Indicators Country Energy Balance

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http://comstat.comesa.int/metadataInfrastructure.html

Data Sources


NSOs: Trade Statistics and Macroeconomic indicators

COMSTAT/COMTRADE: Trade Integration Indicators/mirror data

MS National Authorities: Infrastructure and Energy Indicators

Central Banks/IMF: FDI and SITS

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Other Available Resources


Statistical Bulletins and Reports

Statistical Briefs

Country Trade Profiles

Member States Tariffs

Frequently Asked Tables (FATs)

COMESA Statistics Strategy8

Access to COMSTAT Data Portal

Access to the COMSTAT Data Portal is free to any one

having internet access

The URL for COMSTAT is http://comstat.comesa.int

The COMSTAT can also be accessed via the main COMESA

website at http://www.comesa.int/Statistics

The Data Portal has a video tutorial for first-time users

The Portal also has a downloadable User Guide 9


http://comstat.comesa.int/

http://www.comesa.int/Statistics

Access to COMSTAThttp://comstat.comesa.int

Window Panels

ODP

In the News

Upcoming Events

Scrolling selected

indicators

Tutorial video

User guide

Feedback

Related links

COMESA brief overview

Most popular

Contact us

The Home page

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Access to COMSTAThttp://comstat.comesa.int The Dashboards

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These show:-

Tables

Maps

Graphs

….. That can be exported to:-

Excel

pdf

PNG or

printed


Database Update

► Trade Statistics:

To be facilitated by monthly trade data files received

from Member States as per the standing SLAs between

most Member States and the COMESA Secretariat

► Other Indicators: e.g macroeconomic, demographic e.t.c entail a

commitment from the Directors/coordinating ministries to facilitate the process.

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Data Context


Member States (MS) capture and process statistical data

MS NSOs submit statistical data to COMESA

Data converted into suitable harmonized format

Harmonized and summarized data uploaded to COMSTAT

by COMESA (Seek help for larger uploads from developers)

Updates for IMTS supposedly after 3 months (t+3) when

available, Monthly for HCPI, annual for others

Data users the world over query the data portal13

The Harmonization Process (trade data)

Country codes converted to ISO3166 if not and validated

HS codes trimmed to 6 digits of HS02/07/12 and validated

Trade flows and types validated according to CPCs

Values in national currencies converted to USD

Country file trimmed to structure of COMSUM according to General Trade System

Country file grouped on coded fields and summed on numeric

Residual data files uploaded to COMSTAT


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The COMSTAT Validation Tool

Above process initially performed manually

In 2009, a consultant engaged to develop a

data validation tool

Tool used to validate trade data


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Data Challenges

Delays/non-compliance to SLA/non response by some MS

Lack of adequate data checking/validation by some MS

High staff turnover/transfers and need to retrain new ones

Poor liaison between MS and Secretariat whenever data updates

occur

Inadequate skills for data manipulation/management in some MS

Poor collaboration between NSOs and Revenue Authorities in

some MS


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Measures (for data challenges)

Continuous engagements with Members States (emails, phone

calls etc)

Encourage MS to validate data, we also do in-house checking of

data

Continue to offer TA/missions (when resources permit)

Refresher trainings/support

We encourage MS to form TWG and hold stakeholder meetings to

share ideas/challenges


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Conclusion

With additional financial support from the AfDB, a new portal is

underway, we hope to see some challenges experienced previously

addressed, like uploading of large datasets

Will continue to explore ways of increasing visits to both the DP and

the ODP

For regional, comparable and harmonized data, remember to visit:

http://comstat.comesa.int


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Thank you

Merci

Documents

The COMSTAT Data Portal Enhancing the Africa Information Highway Gabon 16 – 20 November, 2015