Finance Minister Khanal Stresses Data Self-Reliance for Effective Policy-Making

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal has stated that the poverty small area estimation report and the "National Transfer Account" report released by the National Statistics Office will provide an important basis for policy-making.

Speaking at a public program organized on Friday, Finance Minister Khanal mentioned that the "National Transfer Account" is a new type of data for everyone and noted that it had been pending for some time. He emphasized that it is difficult to formulate effective policies in the absence of necessary data and stressed that the National Statistics Office should play a leading role in data production.

"We must become self-reliant and prepare the data necessary for such policy-making of national importance within Nepal ourselves," he said.

Recalling that the National Economic Census was previously prepared with the support of the Japanese government, he pointed out the need to produce data by developing internal capacity.

He said, "The 'National Transfer Account' is a new set of data for all of us. It seems it was pending for some time. Without data, we cannot formulate good policies. The National Statistics Office will play a leading role in developing capacity. In the process of ensuring that we become self-reliant and produce necessary data for national importance within Nepal, it appears the previous National Economic Census was conducted with the help of the Japanese government."

Finance Minister Khanal stated that the National Statistics Office should continue to increase its capability to prepare the data required for the implementation of development plans and policy reforms. He also clarified that the government remains committed to providing the necessary resources for the office's capacity development.

He added, "The National Statistics Office must move forward by building the capacity to prepare the data needed for the development plans and policy reforms we must complete. We are always committed to providing the resources required to develop your capacity."