GESMES/CB

GESMES/CB is a message designed for the exchange of statistical information, primarily within the central banks community, but it could be also used in any case of time series data exchange and between any organisations. GESMES/CB is a subset of the UNTDID message GESMES. GESMES/CB permits the transmission of the following, either in the same and/or different messages:
		the statistical concepts comprising the data set and its structure
		if required, all related information (code sets, labels, methodological notes, footnotes, etc.),
		the statistical figures of the data set.
The GESMES/CB message implements a time series data exchange model, the Central Bank Statistical Data Exchange Model (CBSDEM), which is provided for the exchange of multi-dimensional time series and a variety of associated metadata. It employs an appropriate Gesmes profile and Edifact syntax. Though Gesmes is a generic statistical data model that affords sufficient flexibility to describe syntactically virtually any statistical data model, GESMES/CB has a fixed syntax. This allows the partners to design and to build the applications needed to read and write. GESMES/CB messages avoid intermediate files and special translators; the design of the read/write applications is also simplified by eliminating genericity that is not needed when exchanging time series data. Due to the fixed syntax, in most cases, the rules used in GESMES/CB are stronger and more restrictive than in generic Gesmes. However, the current design allows the possibility of future enhancements and progressive generalisation, if this is needed, upon agreement of the parties involved. GESMES/CB offers several features:
		easy adaptation to any economic domain and flexible coverage of all types of economic - statistical data;
		modern representation techniques: conceptually ‘clean’ multidimensional keys;
		efficiency: it avoids the unnecessary repetition of information;
		series keys without length restrictions;
		easy introduction of new attributes;
		attributes at various levels (observation, time series and ‘higher’);
		exchange of ‘rich’ metadata, organised in a flexible and efficient manner;
		suitability for two-way exchanging time series: i.e. for reporting and disseminating;
		a paperless dissemination of a whole statistical data base is possible: data, metadata, definitions, key structures and code lists can be electronically disseminated from one to other institutions;
		suitability for stage-by-stage implementation: it could start with the essential parts (carrying the administrative and the numeric data) and later the whole message could be used;
		easy implementation: no purchase of special software should be necessary;
		consistency with international standards (Edifact);
		wide user group: NCBs, BIS, EUROSTAT-BoP, ECB/ESCB, IMF, OECD;
		consistency with the long-term goals of the participating institutions (such as ESCB, BIS and EUROSTAT).
BOP compilers can use GESMES/CB to forward aggregated BOP and IIP data to EUROSTAT BOP.