FCAN pledges full cooperation with NSO for National Economic Census 2082

KATHMANDU: Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN) has pledged full cooperation with the National Statistics Office (NSO) for the National Economic Census 2082.

The announcement followed a joint interaction programme held in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The event was jointly organised by the NSO and FCAN and was presided over by FCAN President Rabi Singh. NSO Deputy Chief Statistician Dhundi Raj Lamichhane attended the programme as chief guest. Thirty-five participants took part, including FCAN officials and heads and representatives of affiliated organisations. The session was moderated by NSO Statistics Officer Deena Nath Lamsal, and NSO Director Dr Ved Prasad Dhakal gave a brief presentation on the census.

FCAN President Singh emphasised the construction sector’s importance to the national economy, saying it provides direct and indirect employment to more than 2 million people. He urged construction entrepreneurs across all 77 districts to provide accurate details during the census, stressing that reliable data is essential for policy advocacy.

“Only if accurate data is obtained will it be easier to pressure the government to formulate a Public Procurement Act and construction-friendly policies,” Singh said. He added that FCAN is ready to collaborate for evidence-based planning and will support the National Economic Census 2082 to ensure its success. The federation also plans to send letters of appeal to provincial and district-level offices in all seven provinces and 77 districts.

Participants recommended making the census questionnaire practical and ensuring the inclusion of small businesses.

Deputy Chief Statistician Lamichhane said the slogan for the census is “Economic Census for Economic Measurement” and reassured the private sector about data protection under The Statistics Act, 2022 (2079). “We are sensitive toward the security of the details of industrialists and entrepreneurs. This census is not intended to bring anyone into the tax net or to penalise them, but to prepare the actual economic indicators of the country for use in research and policy-making,” he said. He added, “This campaign cannot be successful without the participation of the private sector; therefore, we want to collaborate with organised institutions like FCAN.”