Date: Feb 1, 2019 Source: The Daily Star ESCWA launches first Arab region Statistical Information Portal BEIRUT: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia launched Thursday the first Arab region Statistical Information Portal (ESIP), according to a statement released by ESCWA. The ESIP offers a range of social and economic statistical services, while facilitating open access to a wealth of statistical data, analysis, and information on its member states, according to the statement. “We are seeking to integrate information and data on the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan as soon as possible. The working group will soon include data on other Arab countries not yet included in the regional committee," said Acting Executive Secretary of ESCWA Mounir Tabet, according to the Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. According to the statement, the information portal is also capable of extracting detailed information about specific countries and indicators as well as browsing, searching and copying copies of relevant publications, all of which are available in both Arabic and English.