The development of effective Statistical Business Registers (SBRs) is crucial for modern economic analytics and governance. However, the lack of a unique business identifier in many countries poses a significant challenge, hindering the full utilization of administrative data and its interoperability such as linking with tax records and register information from legal business entities, employers and employees, and buildings. Recognizing this gap, the UN Guidelines on Statistical Business Registers recommends adopting and promoting the use of unique identifiers for businesses.
Endorsed at the 54th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission in March 2023, the Global Initiative on Unique Identifiers for Businesses focuses on strengthening the connection between business registration and statistical business registers, thereby enhancing the availability and utility of business data globally. It encourages countries and relevant organizations to work together to establish a robust interoperable infrastructure for statistical business registers. By improving the transparency of business activities and ensuring the availability of unique business identifiers, the initiative facilitates better access to and sharing administrative data, which is crucial for understanding globalization, environmental and societal impacts and outcomes, and thereby enhancing statistical capabilities for informing a multidimensional approach to business activity.
Overall, the Global Initiative on Unique Identifiers for Businesses aims to transform the global landscape of business registration and data utilization, promoting better governance and informed economic and the broader sustainable development policies through enhanced statistical capacities. Current members of the Core Group on the GIUIB include Statistics Netherlands, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and United Nations Statistics Division.