TC26-12

The new Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services (MSITS 2026) will shape services trade measurement for years to come. Developed by the WTO, OECD, UN, Eurostat and the IMF, in cooperation with national experts, this international statistical standard introduces a multidimensional framework for measuring services trade. This new generation of services trade data will strengthen the evidence base for policymaking and provide richer perspectives on how economies participate in and benefit from services trade. Implementing MSITS 2026 will require sustained capacity-building efforts, particularly in developing economies. To support this process, the WTO, in cooperation with OECD, UN, Eurostat and the IMF, has launched the Services Trade Statistics Academy, a dedicated capacity-building initiative to assist countries in strengthening their services trade statistics. This programme marks the launch of the Academy. As its inaugural activity, it will bring together government officials from Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Statisticians from central banks, national statistical offices and other agencies involved in trade in services statistics will explore the implications of the new recommendations for data collection, compilation and dissemination, and discuss implementation options adapted to national priorities. The programme will also provide a platform for the exchange of current country experiences and practices.