Overview

The Andean Community (CAN) is a group of four countries that joined together for the purpose of achieving rapid, better balanced and more autonomous development through Andean, South American and Latin American integration. Key objectives of the Andean Community are to raise economic growth - and through this to create more jobs - and to reinforce sub-regional solidarity and reduce differences in development among the Member Countries. They also aim to improve member states position in the international economy and reduce their vulnerability to external economic shocks.

The group plans to continue deepening the process of integration in a way that will contribute effectively to sustainable and equitable human development and improved living conditions whilst maintaining respect for the diversity of their existing societies. Ultimately the vision is the gradual formation of a Latin American common market and the formation of the Union of South American Nations.

Statistical Activities

With the assistance of the European Union, of European countries and international organisations, the Andean Community created its Community Statistical System. With the assistance of the European Union the Andean Community created ANDESTAD. This initiative will contribute to the process of integration of the Andean Community and the strengthening of regional institutions by harmonising and improving the quality of national statistics, which can then be used to manage and evaluate public policy at national level. The key beneficiaries are the national statistical institutes of Bolivia (INE), Columbia (DANE), Ecuador (INEC) and Peru (INEI). PARIS21 has worked closely with all 4 countries and due to their support they have all completed their NSDS strategies and are in the process of implementing them.

Received July 2010