Bahrain Highlights Role in Shaping Future of Statistics at OIC Meeting in Ankara

Ankara - The Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), took an active part in the 14th session of the Statistical Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Ankara from October 1 to 3, 2025. The event was organized by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), with Bahrain represented by iGA’s Executive Vice President for Statistics and Population Registry, Ms. Doaa Sultan Mohammed.

The three-day meeting brought together senior officials from statistical bodies across OIC member states, alongside representatives from international organizations including the United Nations, the Islamic Development Bank, UNESCO, and ESCWA. Experts and practitioners in statistics and digital transformation also contributed, discussing a wide range of pressing issues in the field.

A central focus of the discussions was the OIC’s Statistical Action Plan 2026–2030, a strategic framework aimed at strengthening collaborative statistical work across member states over the next five years. Sessions also examined the critical role of data in driving sustainable energy transitions, exploring how statistical insights can inform energy policy and accelerate digital transformation in the sector.

Participants exchanged experiences on monitoring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), identifying both challenges and opportunities. The meeting emphasized leveraging modern technologies and digital tools to enhance the efficiency and quality of statistical operations, highlighting the importance of innovation in producing reliable official statistics.

The Commission reaffirmed the pivotal role of national statistical offices in supporting policymaking and sustainable development, ensuring adherence to globally recognized standards for national surveys and studies. Enhanced cooperation among OIC countries, capacity-building initiatives, and knowledge exchange were also highlighted as key priorities.

Additionally, the session reviewed recommendations from the previous meeting in October 2024 and approved the 2026–2030 work program, while addressing several technical agendas.

Ms. Doaa Sultan Mohammed underscored Bahrain’s active contribution to shaping the regional and global statistical agenda, emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its statistical systems in line with international best practices. She noted that the meeting will help strengthen integration in statistical work among OIC members, particularly in the areas of statistics and digital transformation—a strategic priority in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.

The OIC Statistical Commission meets annually to provide a platform for sharing best practices, technical expertise, and international partnerships. Since the last session in October 2024, the OIC Secretariat has conducted 34 statistical activities, including 17 training courses, 16 workshops and meetings, and one virtual seminar, engaging around 1,300 participants, with Bahrain actively participating in the majority of these events.