EXTERNAL SECTOR

This sector is responsible to collect statistical data on the foreign trade (exports and imports of goods and services), primary and secondary incomes as well as the financial and capital transactions of the country with the rest of the world. External sector statistics are the key economic indicators for the central banks and other monetary institutions. Such statistics provide information on the foreign reserves position as well as the liabilities of the country including liquidity and foreign debts. In addition, the external sector statistics provide information on the transfers of remittances, inward remittances from the Afghan workers abroad and vice versa. Specifically, the required statistical data for the balance of payments are the transactions between residents and non-residents in the country.

The external sector statistics are compiled on a quarterly basis. Moreover, this sector prepares analytical reports for the DAB quarterly and annual statistical and economic bulletins. In order to improve the quality of the external sector statistics, the data from various sources such as the International Transactions Reporting System (ITRS) which is mainly collected  from commercial banks and used by the government and non-government organizations, are being used. A timely data collection is highly critical while formulating the monetary and exchange rate policies. Moreover, the external sector statistics are also of great importance for other macro-economic policy makers as well as the private sector.