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The National Statistical System of Myanmar
Introduction
1. The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) was firstly formed as Central
Statistical and Economic Development (CSED) in 1952, according to the
Central Statistical Authority Act No. (34-A) of 1952. CSED had been published
various statistical publications and the National Income (GDP) was calculated
by the CSED from 1952 to 1967. CSED was reorganized as CSO in 1974 to
emphasis more than the past on statistical matters. Therefore CSED and CSO
has passed through various economic systems in her long historical past.
2. In 1989, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
government had changed the economic system of the country from Planned
economy to Market Oriented Economic System or Open door market policy.
Accordingly, the economy began to recover slightly during 1989 to 1991. From
1992 on wards, the economic growth rate of the country has been increased
significantly. More significant things is that, the government allowed to set up
private industrial zones in Yangon, Mandalay, Taungyi, Monywa and some
other towns. Now, there are (24) industrial zones by region in the whole country.
Statistical System of Myanmar
3. Statistical System of Myanmar is a decentralized one, CSO functioning
on a national level since 1952, whilst some following ministries set up their
own planning and statistics departments. The following departments and
ministries are:
(a) Planning Departments (Ministry of National Planning and
Economic Development)
(b) Department of Agricultural Planning
(Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation)
(c) Energy Planning Department
(Ministry of Energy)
(d) Planning and Statistics Department
(Ministry of Forestry)
(e) Department of Health Planning
(Ministry of Health)
(f) Industrial Planning Department
(Ministry of Industry No.1)
(g) Directorate of Myanmar Industrial Planning
(Ministry of Industry No.2)
The other ministries have statistical units of sections to meet their own
planning and administrative requirements.
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The role of CSO
4. The Central Statistical Authority Act of 1952 empowers the Central
Statistical Organization to assume a central role in national system of statistical
information by performing the following functions as prescribed in section 5(1):
(a) To develop a comprehensive, efficient and reliable statistical system
for social and economic policy, effective planning and
administration;
(b) Review and advise on all statistical operations of the Union
Government whether performed for statistical, administrative, or
other purposes;
(c) Coordinate and integrate statistical operations;
(d) Establish, prescribe and maintain the highest statistical standards;
(e) Organize and conduct social and economic census of surveys with
reference to Myanmar economic needs and requirements, either on a
prepared planning basic or short notice as may be required.
5. Within the framework of the decentralized system, line ministries and
agencies collect most primary data. There are 31 ministries and 101 agencies
which CSO deals with closely, in administrative data collection.
The present duties of CSO
6. The present duties of CSO are wider than the past. According to market
oriented system, the proportion of ownership to private sector is the largest
position with more than 90 percentage and data requirements of private sector
and all users have being expended also. So, the present duties (or) objectives of
CSO are:-
(a) To compile official and reliable data to be used as basic for
formulating long and short economic and social plans.
(b) To present economic and social situations of the country in terms of
organized data as well as statistical indicators.
(c) To develop methods and use up-to date techniques for collecting and
analyzing data and assist to other government agencies.
(d) To assist and encourage informed decision making, research and
discussion within government agencies, the community, by
providing a high quality, objective and responsive national statistical
services.
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(e) To fulfill the requirements of all users as the statistical scope is
continuously widening and the statisticians of CSO are being
hard pressed to devise new of modified techniques to cope with
the new demands.
(f) To conduct various kinds of surveys regular or adhoc on selected
topic or pressing needs of the state.
(g) To publish statistical publications on behalf of the country.
(h) To exchange published data with those of the United Nations
Organizations and other International bodies, to make further
study by means of International comparison.
(i) To develop a new infrastructure for information technology for
current requirements aiming at timely and accurate statistics
serving various bodies in the countries and to implement modern
communication systems.
(j) To develop computer technology and net-working system within
ministry and out-side ministry.