Statistics-backed analysis to assist COVID-hit export sector improve trade policy making

From left: EU - Sri Lanka Trade-Related Assistance Project National Project Coordinator Dr. Dayaratna Silva, Department of Commerce Acting Director General of Commerce Ananda Dharmapriya,University of Colombo Senior Lecturer Dr. Priyanga Dunusinghe, University of Peradeniya Senior Lecturer Dr. Dilini Hemachandra, and Department of Commerce Director of Commerce/Head of Bilateral Affairs Division Somasena Mahadiulwewa, at the STATA training session.

• ITC and Department of Commerce Successfully Completes STATA Software Training

The International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the Department of Commerce (DoC) of Sri Lanka successfully completed a specialised training in September for 15 public sector officers and researchers, on the globally acclaimed statistical software package STATA. The ITC – a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United Nations (UN) – conducted the training as part of the European Union (EU) funded EU - Sri Lanka Trade-Related Assistance Project, to empower participants and enhance their empirical analysis skills to drive Sri Lanka’s post-COVID economic and trade revival. 

The training, conducted by Dr. Priyanga Dunusinghe and Dr. Dilini Hemachandra, Senior Lecturers at the University of Colombo and University of Peradeniya respectively, kicked off in February and spanned across 19 highly concentrated sessions over a seven-month period. Officers belonging to the DoC, Export Development Board (EDB), Department of Trade and Investment Policy (DTIP) and Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) participated in the training.

STATA is a powerful statistical software that enables users to analyse, manage and produce graphical visualisations of data. During training, participants were educated on leveraging STATA to conduct a wide range of trade policy-related analysis on trade flows and tariffs, as well as economic modelling, general equilibrium and partial equilibrium. With their newfound knowledge and skill capacities, the participants were assigned research projects covering key export sectors such as spices, tea, textile and apparel, fisheries, rubber and electronics. 

These STATA-analysed research findings on the impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka’s export sector were presented by the participants during the final session of the training, which was attended by DoC Acting Director General of Commerce Ananda Dharmapriya, EDB Policy & Strategic Planning Director Kumudinie Mudalige and EU - Sri Lanka Trade-Related Assistance Project National Project Coordinator Dr. Dayaratna Silva. 

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Silva mentioned that this training was organised following an initial request by the DoC, and the objective was to enhance the analytical capacities of officers in undertaking empirical research in their day-to-day work, using STATA as a statistical tool.

Also expressing his views, Dharmapriya commented: “It is highly commendable that the STATA training was successfully completed despite unprecedented challenges that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that leveraging a powerful statistical tool such as STATA will not only provide a crucial skillset in terms of career development and analytical capacities for our staff, but also greatly enhance the efficiencies across our trade-focused institutions. I thank the EU, the ITC and the trainers for their efforts in funding, organising and implementing this training,” he said.  

All participants were awarded certificates from the ITC upon their successful completion of the training.