"Most countries agree that for sustained social and economic development we need a strong and sustainable statistical system. Because without clear and accurate statistics, we cannot evaluate and set direction of social and economic development properly and correctly"

H.E. Somsavat Lengsavad
Deputy Prime Minister

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On 20 October 2010, the world celebrated the first World Statistics Day.
In Lao PDR, Lao Department of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and Investment, organized the statistics week from 11-15 October 2010 in tandem with the World Statistics Day on 20 October 2010 to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of official statistics.

New Law Decree and Strategy on Statistics Announced
The Statistic Law which was approved on 30 June 2010 and the Strategy for the Development of the National Statistical System (SDNSS), 2010-2020 were formally announced during the ceremony of the statistics week event during 11-15 October 2010. Under the new law, the Department of Statistics becomes  the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) and its organizational status equals to a sub-ministry of a line ministry (Ministry of Planning and Investment). The new law decree sets forth that there be a comprehensive national statistical system which collect, collate, analyze and disseminate official statistics based on the statistical science and harmonized reporting system.