World Bank team reviews progress on strengthening Odisha’s statistical system

Bhubaneswar: A high-level technical team from the World Bank, led by Senior Economist Thomas Danielewitz, held meetings with officials from Odisha’s Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) on Thursday and Friday to assess and advance the state’s statistical data ecosystem.
The meeting, part of the World Bank-supported Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Program, focused on enhancing Odisha’s statistical infrastructure for more effective governance and policymaking.
The discussions culminated in a wrap-up session with Odisha’s Development Commissioner, Anu Garg, on Friday, where key stakeholders, including Director of DES Dr. BB Nanda, explored ways to bolster the state’s data capabilities. One of the major highlights of the meeting was the emphasis on adopting the Generic Statistics Business Process Model (GSBPM) across all statistical processes in the state, with guidance from international experts.
A key component of the initiative is the creation of the Odisha Integrated Statistical System (OISS), aimed at improving cooperation and coordination between administrative departments to ensure the timely delivery of reliable data for informed decision-making. Furthermore, the meeting underscored the importance of building DES officials’ capacity through exposure visits to leading states and countries, adopting global best practices, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies.
Development Commissioner Garg lauded the ongoing efforts and urged the integration of advanced hardware and software solutions to further optimize the state’s statistical system. The objective is to promote evidence-based decision-making, strategic planning, and policy formulation to foster Odisha’s growth and resilience in the years ahead.