NSO, FNJ hold interaction programme on National Economic Census 2082

KATHMANDU: National Statistics Office (NSO) and Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) jointly held an interaction programme in Kathmandu on Wednesday to discuss the National Economic Census 2082.

The event brought together 30 media professionals from FNJ, the Society of Economic Journalists‑Nepal (SEJON), Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ), Female Economic Journalist Association (FEJA), and representatives from Nepal Television, Radio Nepal and Rastriya Samachar Samiti. FNJ Vice President Nitu Pandit and SEJON President Bhagwat Bhattrai attended the programme, which was chaired by NSO Deputy Chief Statistician Dr Sharad Kumar Sharma.

NSO Deputy Chief Statistician Dhundi Raj Lamichhane delivered the welcome address and outlined the objectives of the census. Director Prithvi Vijayaraj Sinjapati presented a working paper detailing the census’s aims, concepts, data‑collection topics and the programme schedule.

Lamichhane stressed the media’s dual role in the census, saying the sector is “both a respondent and a key stakeholder.” He urged journalists to provide establishment details and to encourage wider participation, adding that “this campaign cannot succeed without the participation of journalists” and expressing a desire for close collaboration with the communication sector.

During a question‑and‑answer session, Lamichhane addressed differences between the 2075 and 2082 economic censuses, methods for capturing household economic activities and employment, the contribution of private businesses, and the use of government data. He also clarified plans to include new economic platforms — such as YouTube, the film industry, photo studios and social media — within the census scope and to classify them appropriately.

Meanwhile, FNJ Vice President Pandit offered best wishes for the census and pledged the federation’s support. She said, “The real contribution of this sector to the economy can only be measured if planning is based on accurate information and statistics,” and urged continued coordination between the NSO and media, including literacy programmes for journalists to ensure fact‑based public reporting.

Presenting the working paper, NSO Director Prithvi Vijaya Raj Sinjapati emphasised the importance of capturing informal economic activity, saying, “The more we can include the informal sector in the census, the stronger the country's economy will be.” The NSO said the interaction aimed to build media understanding and cooperation ahead of the National Economic Census 2082.