By NOXOLO DLAMINI
PIGGS PEAK – The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, through the Central Statistical Office (CSO), is preparing to roll out fieldwork for Phase Two of the Economic Census, with 62 enumerators having undergone training at Sibebe Resort ahead of the data collection exercise scheduled to begin this Wednesday.
The training was aimed at equipping the enumerators with the knowledge and skills needed to engage businesses professionally, collect reliable information and contribute to a clearer understanding of Eswatini’s economic landscape.
The commencement of fieldwork marks an important step in the implementation of the second phase of the Economic Census, which seeks to gather information that can strengthen the country’s economic planning and development processes.
Speaking during the exercise, Principal Statistician Hanson Dlamini called on the business community to cooperate with enumerators by providing the information required for the census.
Dlamini acknowledged that some business owners might have demanding schedules and limited time to participate in the data collection process. He encouraged those who could not engage directly with enumerators due to time constraints to consider providing their financial statements as an alternative to facilitate the collection of the required information.
He emphasised the importance of business participation in ensuring that the census process proceeds effectively while minimising disruptions to daily business operations.
The information collected through the Economic Census is expected to contribute to a better understanding of economic activity across the country, providing insight into the business environment and supporting evidence-based planning, policy formulation and decision-making.
Reliable economic data is important for informing decisions on national development priorities, as it provides planners and policymakers with information that can help them understand the structure and performance of the economy.
The Ministry, therefore, urges all businesses approached during the upcoming fieldwork to cooperate with the enumerators and provide the requested information.
Through their participation, businesses will contribute to building a stronger evidence base to guide national economic planning and development in Eswatini.
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