The mandate of the ASEAN Community Statistical System (ACSS) contained in the ASEAN Framework of Cooperation in Statistics (AFCS) 2010-2015 was adopted by the ASEAN Heads of Statistical Offices Meeting (AHSOM) in 2010 and acknowledged by the Leaders at the 17th ASEAN Summit in Ha Noi on 28 October 2010. The ASEAN Economic Ministers have confirmed the importance of statistics in ASEAN policy and decision making and has awarded the responsibility to the ACSS Committee. The establishment of the ACSS Committee in August 2011 is in line with the AFCS 2010-2015 which stipulates that AHSOM is to be reconstituted into the ACSS Committee by 2011. The creation of the ACSS Committee was endorsed by the 43rd Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in August 2011 in Manado, Indonesia. It constitutes the first step towards the institution of the ACSS.