The President of NSI took part in the 5th Congress of Polish Statistics

The President of NSI, Assoc. Prof. Atanas Atanasov, PhD took part in the 5th Congress of Polish Statistics, which was held in Warsaw from July 1 to 3, 2025. At the invitation of Assoc. Prof. Marek Cierpiał-Wolan, President of Statistics Poland, Assoc. Prof. Atanasov attended the event alongside his colleague Athanasios Thanopoulos – President of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Marek Cierpiał-Wolan emphasized that the congress brings together national and international statistical communities, representatives from the public administration, local government and, most notably, the academic community. “It is important for us to integrate these groups in the context of the growing demand for high-quality data, the competition on the information market, and the mission of the administration – to create a coherent system of the country’s information infrastructure,” highlighted the President of Statistics Poland.

During the forum, representatives of official statistics and the private sector signed a declaration confirming their commitment to a planned, responsible and transparent use of data in support of the economy, recognizing the increasing role of data as a foundation for public decision-making, research, and socio-economic development. “Our cooperation is based on the principles of good-will, partnership and respect for the independence of institutions. We work in compliance with applicable legislation, respecting the principles of statistical and commercial confidentiality,” states the declaration.

Within the programme of the congress, Assoc. Prof. Atanasov participated in a session dedicated to the use of new data sources in tourism statistics. The President of NSI discussed with his colleagues from the national statistical institutes of Greece and Poland, as well as with representatives from leading universities from Greece and Portugal, the possibility of using data from mobile operators and bank card transactions to compile official statistics on tourist flows and consumption. The topic is particularly relevant for Bulgaria following its accession to the Schengen Area.