Training Program

Officials whose main responsibility is compiling balance of payments, international merchandise trade statistics, and/or international trade in services statistics.

Participants should have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience and should be familiar with the methodology of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, sixth edition (BPM6).

Participants should be familiar with the methodology of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, sixth edition (BPM6).

This course, presented by the IMF's Statistics Department, aims at providing a thorough understanding of the concepts, as well as practical advice on the data sources and compilation techniques of the international trade in goods and services statistics. The course will be largely based on the BPM6 Compilation Guide - the companion document of the BPM6 - and the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 Compilers Guide (MSITS 2010 CG). The course will consist of a series of lectures, workshops and plenary discussions on country practices covering concepts, sources, and compilation methods associated with international trade in goods and services statistics. Recognizing the challenges in the compilation of certain services categories, such as manufacturing and merchanting, insurance, financial services, construction, and digitalization, the course will emphasize specific aspects related to their treatment and recording in the balance of payments. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss problems encountered in their compilation work and gain insights into the analytical uses of international trade in goods and services statistics.