JICA to assist CBS in Economic Census

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) agreed to provide technical assistance to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) for the capacity development needed for Economic Census 2018 in Nepal.

Both the organizations signed a technical cooperation project ‘Projection capacity development for the implementation of Economic Census 2018 in Nepal’.

JICA chief representative Tsutomu Shimizu and CBS director general Suman Raj Aryal signed on project’s record of discussion.

“The Project targets to develop the Capacity of CBS to conduct Economic Census and enhance such skills in conducting other related statistical surveys. Projects aims CBS staff be able to plan and implement Economic Census, process and scrutinize Economic Census Data,” read a press release issued by JICA.

Statistical results provided by CBS will be utilized for planning and implementation of policies, plans, and strategies of line ministries, local governments, universities, research institutions and private sector.

JICA informed that the duration of the Project will be tentatively for five years.

It said that the technical assistance provided by JICA for Economic Census would be an innovative statistical undertaking in Nepal in enhancing integrated economic statistics. It provides a consistent and reliable assessment of a country’s economic activity for policy and analytical uses.

“The Economic Census will provide essential statistical information on economic activities, which is necessary in order to plan for, and implement, economic and social development, administrative activity or research,” read the release.

According to JICA, Economic Census would be inevitable to fulfill the broad economic data needs in achieving the prevailing challenges towards upgrading the country to developing country.

“The census will also be able to supplement the indicators required to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.”

The Economic Census 2018 aims at strengthening statistical infrastructure by establishing both statistical business register and a sampling frame containing all establishments and enterprises.

The government is drafting the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics.