Economic census in West Jakarta reaches 92 percent

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has announced that the Economic Census in West Jakarta has reached 92 percent of the total target of 1,042,543 households and businesses.

“As of today it has reached 92 percent,” said Head of BPS West Jakarta, Muhammad Noval, when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Noval said that despite facing significant negative stigma from respondents in the early stages of the census, public response has now become more positive after field officers provided clarification through outreach.

“Alhamdulillah, in the early stages of the census, up to the midpoint, there were indeed many negative issues, with hoaxes perhaps dominating. But looking at recent developments, the positive narrative now outweighs the negative,” said Noval.

The new challenge currently faced, Noval said, is completing the census for the final eight percent.

“This remaining eight percent is, in quotation marks, more difficult. Because what is left includes elite housing, apartments, and large companies. So there are unique challenges,” said Noval.

His office is coordinating with the West Jakarta City Government to ensure the smooth completion of the census.

“That is why we maintain active communication with the city government, and we are also assisted by the sub-district authorities to support the implementation of this census, especially for elite housing,” said Noval.

Noval emphasised that the census, conducted from 15 June to 31 August 2026, aims to map information on the economic conditions and potential of businesses, companies, and households.

“The government also wants to obtain information on business structures, which sectors or fields of business are dominant in society. Is trade dominant, or transport, or food and beverage provision? And what percentage share or role does each sector play?” said Noval.

In this way, he said, the government can gain a picture of a region’s economy and compare it with other regions.

Noval added that his office has a total of 1,648 Economic Census officers. “There are 1,461 Field Data Collection Officers (PPL) and 187 Field Inspection Officers (PML).”

Noval assured the security of public data collected during the data collection process.

He stated that data protection is guaranteed through Law Number 16 of 1997 on Statistics and other applicable regulations.

“Data security is guaranteed by Law Number 16 of 1997 on Statistics and other applicable regulations,” he added.