In 1996, the IMF established the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) to ensure that countries seeking access to capital markets meet certain standards for the dissemination of statistics. The objective was also to make sure that financial market participants have adequate information to assess the situation in these countries.

The SDDS defines certain categories of statistics to be published and sets out the requirements to be met in terms of the content, frequency, accessibility, integrity and quality of disseminated datasets.

From the outset, Belgium adhered to this standard, with the National Bank of Belgium playing a coordinating role, in cooperation with the Belgian Statistics Office (Statbel) and the National Accounts Institute.

Over time, the IMF gradually strengthened the SDDS by incorporating new data categories and additional requirements. These efforts culminated in SDDS Plus, which aims to provide information on IMF member countries whose economies and financial systems play an important role on the international financial markets.

Belgium joins a group of 29 SDDS Plus adherents. The new dataset will be available as from 27 January 2023.

More information can be found on our website and on the IMF’s website.