Montenegro began participating in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) today, marking a major step forward in the development of its statistical system. Comprehensive information on the statistical production and dissemination practices of Montenegro now appears on the IMF’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/gdds/gddscountrylist/).

“Montenegro is committed to using the IMF’s General Data Dissemination System as a general framework to continue developing the national statistical system consistent with best international practices,” said Ms. Gordana Radojevic, General Director of the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT). “The participation of Montenegro in the GDDS will also lead to the production and dissemination of more reliable and timely statistics.”

Ms. Adelheid Burgi-Schmelz, Director of the IMF Statistics Department, welcomed Montenegrin participation in the GDDS. “The participation of Montenegro in the GDDS is a major milestone in the country’s statistical development. I am confident that Montenegro will benefit from using the GDDS as a framework for further development of its statistical system,” Ms. Burgi-Schmelz underscored.

The GDDS was established by the IMF in 1997. It provides a framework to help countries to develop their statistical systems to produce comprehensive and accurate statistics for policymaking and analysis. With Montenegro, the GDDS has 102 participants, in addition to countries that have graduated from the GDDS to the more rigorous Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).