FNCCI, NSO hold interaction on National Economic Census 2082

KATHMANDU: An interaction on the implementation of National Economic Census 2082 concluded on Monday at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Secretariat in Teku, Kathmandu. The event was jointly organised by FNCCI and the National Statistics Office (NSO) and drew industrialists, entrepreneurs and senior NSO officials.

The NSO said the census will collect, process, analyse and publish basic information on establishments engaged in economic activities across Nepal. Officials said the exercise aims to support government planning and policy measurement, strengthen GDP and national account estimates, update the base year for national accounts, develop sampling frames for economic surveys, create a statistical business register and produce indicators for the informal economy.

FNCCI Vice President Hem Raj Dhakal said the census will deliver “factual data on the country's genuine economic health, the status of industries and businesses, investment patterns, and employment,” adding that such information is essential for policy formulation. He said the census cannot achieve success without active private sector engagement and affirmed that FNCCI is ready to provide the necessary support and partnership.

NSO Deputy Chief Statistician Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said the National Economic Census 2082 will enable evidence-based policy-making by gathering comprehensive data from the industrial, commercial and service sectors. He assured business owners that “data confidentiality will be strictly maintained” and urged them to provide information with confidence.

NSO Director Dr Ved Prasad Dhakal presented on the necessity, objectives and significance of the census.

The NSO conducted Nepal’s first economic census in 2075 BS, covering economic units across 18 categories under the International Standard Industrial Classification. The second census is scheduled to run from April 15, 2026 to June 21, 2026.

Stakeholders at the session discussed the census’s likely effectiveness, the role of private sector participation, potential challenges during implementation and offered suggestions for improvement. Organisers said continued collaboration between NSO and private sector bodies will be critical to achieving accurate and comprehensive results.