Progress of work on Business Statistics in PICTs
      Background 
      •  Quality data on business activities is lacking in PICTS.
      •  Pacific Statistics Strategy Action Plan, Phase 1 (2011 – 2014) 
         recommends that establishment surveys be conducted in a 
         five yearly cycle so that more regular GDP re-bases can reflect 
         more accurately on structural developments in national 
         economies.
      •  Prerequisites to having business surveys are
           – Industry classification
           – Business Register
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     Progress of work on Business Statistics in PICTs
     Achievements/Highlights 
     • Fiji:  
         – Reviewed industry-specific business survey questionnaires
         – Upgraded the business register ( joint project with the ABS)
              • Draft Business Register Manual completed and available. 
     • PNG:
         – Compiled the PNG Standard Industrial Classification
              • draft PNGSIC available
         – set-up business register with Fiji providing south-south 
            collaboration
              • draft Business Register Manual is available
         – Designed industry-specific business survey questionnaire
              • draft questionnaires available.  
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     Progress of work on Business Statistics in PICTs
     Major challenges  
     1. Lack of national funds to carry out much needed survey work.
     2. Weak legal powers as the authority for statistical collection
     3. Skills required to conduct business surveys.
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       Progress of work on Business Statistics in PICTs
       Proposed way forward/Recommendations
       •   SPC is committed to standardizing business statistics collection 
           system in PICTS, which is in direct response to Pacific Leaders call to 
           standardize classifications and methodologies in the Region:  
            – in collaboration with ABS a Pacific Manual on the Business Register  is being finalized and 
                will be published later this year
            – three confirmed missions: Vanuatu in late 2013 and Tonga and Solomon Islands in 2014 to  
                review/set-up Business Statistics systems.  
       •   Given the importance of private -sector led economic development, 
           it is imperative for Governments to have regular access to up-to-date 
           business registers. HOPS is invited to recommend to countries to 
           engage in greater public-private sector partnerships to allocate 
           sufficient resources to allow for a regular conduct of establishment 
           surveys.
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