Each set of statistics, who does the Government trust?

Many people do not believe in statistics, such as is Vietnam's GDP per capita more than 2,000 USD?

These are the concerns raised by Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue at a working session with the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Planning and Investment) on August 16.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said that although the national statistics sector has made efforts in synthesizing, analyzing, and forecasting statistical data, it has not yet covered the full scope of statistics. Especially statistics on average income per capita, population, employment, labor, unofficial costs, import-export data, etc.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue: If statistics are more ambiguous, it will make people more suspicious. Photo: TP

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue cited that each agency and ministry reported different statistics on the same subject, such as the employment and labor figures given by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs were one number but the General Statistics Office reported a different number; or the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that pork exports across the border were about 200,000 tons but the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported 300,000 tons. Or is Vietnam's GDP per capita more than 2,000 USD?

"Each ministry gives a number that makes the Government not know who to trust and how to operate?" - Deputy Prime Minister stated the reality.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the statistics sector must strive to improve the quality and reliability of statistical indicators at all times and consider this work to be decisive to the sector's role in society and the economy. "Without information, decisions cannot be made," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that statistics must speak for themselves. Statistical agencies must not only provide data but must also use that data to forecast, analyze, and guide, helping the Government have accurate management information.

In addition, the statistics sector must approach in a modern, effective and quality manner in four aspects: Synchronization, standardization, process and computerization. The process of synthesis, analysis and forecasting must be consistent with international standards but suitable for Vietnam's conditions.

More importantly, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that statistical agencies should boldly and transparently announce socio-economic data. This will make people trust officials and statistics. If the data is more ambiguous, it will make people more suspicious.

Also at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Bich Lam, General Director of the General Statistics Office, proposed that from 2017, the General Statistics Office will directly calculate and publish data on gross regional domestic product (GRDP).

However, the Deputy Prime Minister said that this option needs to be carefully studied because if the General Statistics Office performs the above work for provinces and cities, what will the 63 local Statistics Offices and the district and commune-level statistical system do?

According to PLO