International Trade in Goods and Services Statistics

Source details

The International Trade in Goods and Services Statistics (ITGS) training program provides a comprehensive understanding of international trade in goods and services statistics.
Instruction and guidance are based on the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, seventh edition (BPM7) and the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 Compilers Guide (MSITS 2010 CG).
The course comprises a series of lectures, workshops, and plenary discussions on country practices, covering concepts, sources, and methods for compiling international trade in goods and services statistics.
The curriculum addresses compilation challenges for complex categories, including manufacturing services, merchanting, insurance, financial services, and construction, with emphasis on their treatment and recording in the balance of payments (BOP).
Participants gain insights into analytical uses of international trade in goods and services statistics.

Target audience: Officials whose main responsibility is compiling balance of payments (BOP), international merchandise trade statistics, and/or international trade in services statistics.
Prerequisite familiarity: Participants should be familiar with the methodology of the Balance of Payments and Integrated International Investment Position Manual, seventh edition (BPM7).
Qualifications expected:
- A degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.
- At least one year of experience in collecting and processing source data on goods and/or services and/or in compiling BOP statistics.

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:
- Explain the compilation of international trade in goods and services accounts related to the BOP.
- Identify new data sources that could improve the compilation of statistics on international trade in goods and services.
- Apply appropriate statistical techniques for dealing with complex methodological and compilation issues in compiling statistics on international trade.
- Identify data gaps in and set up a strategy for the compilation of digital trade in line with the BPM7 and the Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade, second edition.

IMF offers online training to government officials and the public; prospective participants are encouraged to consult IMF training offerings for current courses.
Example related event listing: Tax Regional Workshop on Strategic Management — English (Arabic) | November 29, 2026 - December 3, 2026 | In-person Training | Kuwait city, Kuwait.