Khartoum — A delegation of experts from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (Office for North Africa) initiated on 11 November a one week working visit to Sudan, to prepare the second edition of the Sudan Country profile.

From 11 to 15 November, the ECA delegation will meet Sudanese experts from the Ministries of Finance and National Economy, the Ministry of Planning, the Central Bank and the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. Together, they will examine economic and social data and public policies y developed in the country.

The ECA country profiles, which were recently launched in 2015, present high-level decision makers with analyses and general policy recommendations based on statistical data, to help them draw a path towards sustained growth and sustainable development. To promote Africa's economic transformation, ECA's country profiles include several innovations including the African Regional Integration Index, the African Social Development Index (ASDI), and the African Gender and Development Index (AGDI).

The ECA country profiles also contained locally produced data, and analyses, with the aim of enabling African decision makers to influence and take ownership of the international narrative on their economies.

This visit will also be an opportunity for ECA to strengthen its collaboration with Sudanese institutions by examining opportunities to boost national capacities in the field of statistics. Statistics are vital for the definition of strategic orientations for development; they also facilitate their application through economic policies adapted to Sudan's needs.