The transformation of national statistical systems is accelerating as Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies mature and become more deeply embedded in data workflows. For official statistics, this shift presents significant opportunities for automation, improved metadata management, enhanced data discoverability, and more dynamic integration of statistics with digital services.

However, unlocking these opportunities requires robust, interoperable, and machine-readable data infrastructures underpinned by quality metadata. The Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMx) standard has long provided the foundation for structured, harmonised, and reusable statistical data. As AI agents begin to interact more directly with structured data, SDMx’s role becomes even more critical. Recent advances—including the development of Model Context Protocol (MCP) services within the SIS-CC community—enable AI systems to query, interpret, and use official statistics in ways that were not previously possible. These developments highlight the need for increased capacity building in SDMx and for experimentation with SDMx+AI integrations.

In response to these emerging challenges and opportunities, the Ministry of Data and Statistics of the Republic of Korea (MODS), the OECD Development Centre, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are pleased to host the MODS-OECD-ADB Global Workshop 2026 on “From Standards to Intelligence: Strengthening Capacity for SDMx and AI-Driven Official Statisticcs.” This workshop will serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue on the future of AI-ready statistical systems and the evolving role of metadata in the digital age.

The workshop will bring together distinguished policymakers, researchers, technology experts, and statistical practitioners from around the world to discuss innovative approaches, international standards, and real-world applications of AI in official statistics. Through collaborative discussion and knowledge exchange, we hope this workshop will contribute to building more reliable, intelligent, and future-oriented statistical ecosystems for the global community.

Join us to drive innovation and unlock the full potential of AI in official statistics. We look forward to welcoming you to this pioneering event!