Bulgaria will play host to an informal meeting, which will map out a plan on development of cooperation among the Balkan countries in the field of statistics. The forum will take place on September 5 and 6, the press centre of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Monday.

The initiative is within the context of the NSI-stated intention to play a leading role within the initiative for the establishment of a joint form of cooperation among the official statistical bodies of the countries from the region.

Heinrich Brunger, head of the Statistical Division of the UN's Economic Committee, and his deputy, Lidiya Bratanova, opened a visit here at the invitation of NSI. Brugner familiarized representatives of NSI, ministries and the National Bank of Bulgaria with the role of official statistics in the democratic society.

The NSI senior officials and the guest discussed draft amendments to the Bulgarian Statistics Act in the context of the upcoming amendments of the EU law in the field of statistics.

Brunger will confer with the economic team of President Georgi Purvanov and Yordan Tsonev, Chairman of the National Assembly Economic Policy Committee.