UEMOA makes important contributions to the system for collecting national statistical information and to initiatives for the convergence of the economies of member states. The following activities were selected:

• statistical harmonization work: with regard to the implementation of the Regional Support Program for Statistics (PARSTAT), the actions mainly relate to the continuation of the activities planned within the framework of the subsidy contract between the Commission of UEMOA and the Economic and Statistical Observatory of Sub-Saharan Africa (AFRISTAT). In addition to improving the calculation of GDP and modernizing national accounts, this involves carrying out surveys on the urban informal sector, the results of which could be used to study food security problems (exclusion phenomena). in an urban environment ;
• studies in progress: studies financed within the framework of PARIS 21 have been programmed, in particular in the aspects of better knowledge of the factors of competitiveness of economies;
• management of the database and establishment of macroeconomic management tools: modeling and development of macroeconomic management tools are continuing and macroeconomic simulations and projections are carried out;
• Common External Tariff: the CET is broadly applied and it is focused on determining a single tariff and statistical nomenclature. However, the uniformity of nomenclatures is not yet applied in a uniform way although the new version of the Harmonized System adopted by the
• Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in June 1999 has been in force since January 2003;
• participation in the multilateral trading system: it aims to ensure member states a better integration into world trade. The major event is the context of the multilateral trade negotiations initiated within the framework of the Doha Development Agenda. The integration of national economies into world trade (including factor cost competitiveness) takes place rather outside the country and the UEMOA zone in national or sub-regional decision-making centers;
• implementation of the Special Regional Program for Food Security (PSRSA) in the WAEMU member states: 4 regional studies aimed at preparing the establishment of a legislative and regulatory framework. These studies cover food quality and safety standards,
• phytosanitary and animal health standards as well as tariff and fiscal measures and other non-tariff barriers to trade in agricultural and food products within the Union and with the rest of the world. In addition, UEMOA has drawn up an investment program for food security within UEMOA which will be submitted to development partners shortly (under the New Partnership for

Development of Africa –NEPAD-).