Indonesia embarks on major economic census
Indonesia embarks on major economic census
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto last night launched a nation- wide economic census, starting today, to encompass all sectors except agriculture.
Soeharto said in a televised speech that the census aimed to collect complete and accurate economic data which is needed for the planning, implementation and supervision of development.
"It is very important to have statistics about our economic strength in preparing ourselves for an open global economy and free trade," he said.
He explained that the census will target all legal business entities in Indonesia, including foreign companies. The informal sectors, which include small-scale businesses without licenses, will also be surveyed, but randomly.
The President said that the census would also examine small, middle and large businesses as well as their sectors and absorption levels of labor force.
"Information about small enterprises is badly needed for nurturing them and reducing our economic gaps," Soeharto said.
He added that the results of the census would also be used to evaluate the level of production efficiency of enterprises and their export roles and to map out the possible level of raw materials they need.
The results of the census could also be used for specific business purposes, such as diversifications of businesses, marketing of products and promotion, Soeharto said.
The 1996 economic census is the second economic survey to be conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics to date. The first economic census was held in 1986.
The bureau's chairman, Soegito, said earlier this week that his office would need at least Rp 200 billion (US$87.1 million) in state funds to finance the nation-wide census.
Soegito said that the government had earmarked Rp 63.4 billion for data collection in the current state budget, which ends in March.
He said the census would cover mining activities, power generation, manufacturing, construction, retailers and wholesalers, among other things. Service activities related to transportation, finance, accommodation and restaurants will also be a target of the census.
Data will be collected in all parts of the country starting today until the end of next month in cooperation with provincial administrations. The outcome of the survey will be published in February 1997.
Soegito noted that his office would deploy around 86,000 surveyors comprised of workers, teachers and students, to carry out the census.
Soeharto appealed to businesspeople, including household businesses, to support the census and to give correct data to the bureau's surveyors. (rid)