Conference with various Business association on Enterprise Surveys

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is pleased to announce that the Conference with various Business association on Enterprise Surveys was held today at the Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi. The event marked a significant step in engaging with business associations and stakeholders to discuss upcoming enterprise surveys so as to facilitate data collection from industry/enterprises.

The conference focused on five major enterprise-related initiatives of MoSPI:

1. Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)
2. Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE)
3. Annual Survey of Service Sector Enterprises (ASSSE)
4. Forward looking survey on Private sector Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).
5. Economic Census

These surveys are designed to provide a comprehensive view of the non-agricultural sector of the Indian economy and are vital for compiling GDP and GSDP figures, which aid in macroeconomic estimations. The CAPEX survey aims to track private sector investment patterns, while the Economic Census will detail the total count of establishments across formal and informal sectors, capturing critical parameters such as economic activity and ownership patterns.

Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI and Shri S.C.L. Das, Secretary, MSME spoke on the occasion along with representatives from various ministries and members from the business associations. The conference brought together approximately 170 participants, including representatives from about 70 business associations including FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, IPMA, Chamber of Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises etc.

Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General, National Sample Surveys, NSSO, MoSPI welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the conference. She praised the support from business associations and enterprises, emphasizing the importance of the ASSSE in GDP compilation and the role of ASUSE, ASI, and ASSSE in addressing crucial data gaps. She stressed the importance of the Economic Census in capturing the evolving nature of the economy.

In the inaugural session, Secretary, Ministry of MSME in his address, emphasized the importance of enterprise survey data for MSMEs, focusing on the five key areas of Employment, Economy, Export, Empowerment and Energy Transitions. He appreciated MoSPI for organising the conference bringing all stakeholders including the Business Associations together in a single platform and suggested to extend the same in other surveys also.

Secretary, MoSPI in his remarks highlighted the critical role of enterprise surveys data in national accounts and policy formation. He emphasised the importance of the ASI, ASUSE, and ASSSE in filling crucial data gaps and supporting economic growth, while also pointing out the significance of the upcoming Private Sector CAPEX survey and Economic Census. He mentioned the utility of the PLFS survey data for Industry/Enterprises which provides crucial insights on the employment unemployment situation in various socio-economic parameters.

Following the inaugural session, the conference progressed with a series of Presentations dedicated to enterprise surveys, economic census and utilisation of NSSO Survey data by M/o Textiles & M/o Labour & Employment, highlighting utility of data for policy formulation and also development of investment strategies by Industries.

The conference also featured insights from various industry experts, including representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Chambers of Indian MSME and IMPA etc. Their views on the surveys highlighted key areas of concern and opportunities for collaboration.

The representatives from industrial associations raised concern regarding harmonisation of metadata, definitions of various surveys and classifications. Requirement of availability of high frequency user friendly data at granular level was also highlighted. Suggestion was also made for more such interactions in future.

Expert views and the interactive sessions provided a platform for open discussions and Q & A session, allowing attendees to pose questions, share insights, and provide feedback on the significance of the enterprise surveys. The requirement of bridging gap between data sets generated by different Ministries, Concordance with different types of product/industrial classification, importance of data on women entrepreneur, data on care workers etc. are some of the issues raised during open discussion.

This engagement is expected to foster better utilization of the data and support informed decision-making across sectors. The conference concluded with a strong sense of collaboration and commitment to leveraging data for evidence-based policies and sustainable development. The insights shared and the discussions held are expected to significantly impact the effectiveness of enterprise surveys and support informed decision-making across sectors.