Feature

Trading By PC

New Zealand software technology is revolutionising the regulation of trade by Pacific nations.

Ray Hall

A trade software package developed by the Department of Statistics is proving a big hit with many countries in the Pacific.

PC/TRADE is a powerful personal- computer-based processing package, initially developed for use in the smaller statistical offices in the Pacific. The package has been installed and is running in a numberof Pacific countries, including the Solomon Islands, Niue, the Cook Islands and Vanuatu.

Simplifying Statistics

PC/TRADE enables the speedy capture and production of trade statistics, using the internationally accepted harmonised classification system. This system assigns a specific number to a trade item, identifying details about the goods. This provides for international comparisons of trade statistics, whilst reducing the overheads of classification.

The package is relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and accurate -- exactly the sort of system small nations need to monitor their trade statistics. It has been designed to run on a minimum configuration of an IBM or compatible PC/AT with 640kb of memory. A hard disk of at least 20Mb is required, depending on the volume of foreign trade being processed.

Processing comprises three main components: imports, exports and reference data. Each of these systems has its own data entry and reporting features, and user hooks are provided so that locally developed code can be included into the menu structure. The system has extensive help features, and was designed with ease of use and minimal training requirements in mind.

International Reputation

PC/TRADE's excellent reputation has attracted international attention. A recent request for software for evaluation may result in the package being used in Asia and Africa.

The Australian Customs Service has recently commissioned the department to make some modifications to the system. The motivation for the changes is to increase the potential user base by including additional features relevant to the Customs Offices in the Pacific. It will also provide for greater co-operation between the Customs and Statistics Offices.

Initial development will involve the Statistics and Customs Offices in Kiribati, Tuvalu, Niue and the Cook Islands. The first phase will be to visit these countries, and compare their requirements to a draft plan recently agreed upon, with the resulting upgrade to be ready by April 1992.

"The department is delighted to have had the opportunity to demonstrate the talents of its staff, while at the same time making a significant contribution towards improving statistical services in the Pacific region," says Deputy Government Statistician Ron Welply.

Ray Hall is the manager of the Department of Statistics's Christchurch Data Processing Centre.