IMF Conference

The UN General Assembly has designated October 20, 2010 as World Statistics Day. Countries and international organizations will hold events to celebrate the important role of official statistics in policy-making. The IMF and the World Bank are jointly hosting an event ahead of the World Statistics Day in Washington, DC.

Program
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Opening Session Black Auditorium – H Building, World Bank
9:00am - 10:00am	Breakfast, networking, and viewing of exhibits
10:00am - 12:00pm	Moderator: Phillip Hay, Communications Advisor, HDN, World Bank
10:00am - 10:30am	Opening remarks by: • Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director, World Bank • Murilo Portugal, Deputy Managing Director, IMF
10:30am - 11:05am	Guest Speakers: • Dr. Eduardo Sojo, Chief Statistician, Mexico (Data compilers’ perspective) • Dr. Pronab Sen, former Chief Statistician, India (Data compilers’ perspective) • Prof. Angus Deaton, former President, American Economic Association (Data users’ perspective)
11:05am - 11:40am	Discussion, including audience participation through the web
11:40am - 12:00pm	Closing remarks by: • Adelheid Burgi-Schmelz, Director, Statistics Department, IMF • Shaida Badiee, Director, Development Data Group, World Bank
ICP Users Conference Black Auditorium – H Building, World Bank
2:00pm-2:20pm	Opening statement, Justin Lin, Sr. Vice President and Chief Economist, Development Economics, World Bank
2:20pm-3:00pm	The basic PPP challenge and possible extensions of PPP methods, Prof. Angus Deaton
3:00pm-3:30pm	Speculating on how PPP could be used if more fully developed and utilized, Dr. Albert Keidel
3:30pm-3:50pm	Coffee break
3:50pm-5:40pm	Technical presentations and discussion of six specific underutilized PPP uses and extensions: • International comparisons in healthcare and education • International comparisons in agriculture and food • International comparisons of infrastructure and certain kinds of equipment • Within-country comparisons of living standards and employee costs • Long-term projections of economic growth • Domestic and international valuation of housing and medical services
5:40-6:00pm	Conclusion and recommendations
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Launch of Virtual Statistical System (VSS) (VC with Nigeria Country Office) Room JB1 - 080, World Bank J Building
9:00am-10:00am	Breakfast, networking, and viewing of VSS
10:00am-10:10am	Opening statement, Shaida Badiee, Director, Development Data Group
10:10am-10:20am	Introduction to the VSS, Jean-Louis Sarbib, Chief Executive Officer, Development Gateway Foundation
10:20am-10:40am	Main features of the VSS, Ronald Luttikhuizen, Project Manager, Development Data Group
10:40am-10:45am	Remarks from Onno Ruhl, Country Director, Nigeria
10:45am-10:55am	Results of the Assessment of the VSS, Hermann Habermann, Consultant, VSS Project
10:55am-11:45am	Discussion • Nigeria: World Bank Country Office/National Statistical Office • Washington audience
11:45am-12:00pm	Closing remarks
Award Ceremony Second Regional Award for Innovation in Statistics Room I8-300, World Bank I Building
3:00pm-4:00pm	Poster exhibit about the innovations, the use of the data, and the lessons learned
4:00pm-4:10pm	Opening remarks, Marcelo Giugale, Sector Director, LCSPR
4:10pm-4:20pm	Opening video on the background of the awards
4:20pm-4:40pm	Award ceremony hosted by Pamela Cox, Regional Vice President, LCRVP, co-hosted by Richard Harris, DFID, and Representative of the Spanish Trust Fund. Announcement of the winners in each category: • Latin American and the Caribbean • Sub-regional Central America • Sub-regional Caribbean
4:40pm-4:50pm	Closing video -- interview with three finalists
4:50pm-5:00pm	Closing remarks, Shaida Badiee, Director, Development Data Group Importance of supporting innovation initiatives in statistics.
5:00pm-6:00pm	Cocktail