Luanda — The first General Population and Housing Census set for 2013 will be the "biggest and most important statistic operation that will take place in 43 years", said Monday in Luanda the Angolan minister of Planning, Ana Dias Lourenço.

Speaking at the first plenary session of the National Council of Statistics (CNEST), the official said the census will contribute to build up the capacity and competence of the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in particular and of the National Statistics System (SEN) in general.

"We are (...) more apt to respond the future challenges in terms of production and dissemination of quality official statistics, in particularly favourable conditions," stressed the minister who is also the CNEST chairperson.

The minister also spoke of the need for a speedier process of definition of the National Strategy on Statistic Development at medium/long term, that is in five to 10 years.

She said that without a well defined strategy, it will be very difficult or even impossible to respond to the needs of users, both public and private, with quality, objective, reliable and timely official statistics.

The plenary session that was intended to highlight the importance of CNEST within the context of the new law, tackled specific matters like the law on the statistic system and information about the state of preparation of the census in 2013.