FNCCI Lumbini Province, SiCCI hold 'National Women Entrepreneurs Summit'

KATHMANDU: Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) - Lumbini Province and Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SiCCI) organised the 'National Women Entrepreneurs Summit - 2080' in Bairahawa, Rupandehi district. 

The two-day summit, organised under the leadership of Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee of FNCCI from February 16 to 17, was themed 'Women's Investment, Entrepreneurs at Every House'. 

The entrepreneurs at the summit discussed challenges such as procedural ease, training, capital, technology, manpower, and marketing. They also talked about the necessary policy arrangements for business operations. They suggested that there is potential for economic progress from entrepreneurs and small industries, and that businesses can be run by mobilising local resources with minimal capital investment.

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary stated, "It's time to link women's enterprise with costs, expenses, and income. Rural enterprises should be connected with urban areas. He informed that Lumbini Province has prepared an entrepreneurship programme on how women can earn at least Rs 30,000. He said, "With young people going abroad, we see this as an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to step forward and organise such a summit." "Lumbini Province is ready to raise the necessary financial resources for the promotion of women entrepreneurship," he stated and opined, "The country will not succeed until women entrepreneurs succeed." He also pledged to convey the findings of the women's summit to the chief ministers of all seven provinces and take other necessary initiatives.

Speaking at the summit, Lumbini Province Home Minister Santosh Kumar Pandeya said, "The provincial government considers it its responsibility to support women entrepreneurs and is serious about fulfilling it." "We have taken initiatives to connect women's entrepreneurship to the economy, assist in market promotion, branding, and marketing of local products. We aim to provide employment to 200,000 youths and seek the cooperation of the private sector in our efforts to make youth entrepreneurs," he added.

At the summit, FNCCI Senior Vice President Anjan Shrestha said, "The government should create an environment for sustainable business, promote small businesspersons, empower women entrepreneurs, and promote economic prosperity." He asserted that FNCCI has repeatedly drawn the attention of stakeholders to the need to provide financial access to women entrepreneurs. Facilities such as project mortgage loans, subsidised loans, and re-loans should be made easy and effective. Shrestha opined, "Women's entrepreneurship has many benefits; it's not only related to employment, economic growth, and entrepreneurship, but also equality and creating a fair society. Currently, 27% of businesses in Nepal are owned by women, but the number of women actively engaged in them is low. This is one of the reasons why our society cannot develop properly."

FNCCI Vice President (Commodity) Hem Raj Dhakal said the government and the private sector should work together for the development of women's entrepreneurship and mentioned that FNCCI is actively working towards this goal.

FNCCI - Lumbini Province President Krishna Prasad Sharma explained that the summit was organised in Bhairahawa to address the issues faced by women entrepreneurs across the country and to support entrepreneurship development. He expressed hope that this would aid in promoting entrepreneurship beyond the federal capital.

Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee Chairperson Kamala Shrestha informed that the summit was organised with the aim of bringing together the three-tier government and financial officials to discuss the status of women entrepreneurs, existing policy arrangements, practical challenges, and solutions. She expressed satisfaction over the recent increase in women's entrepreneurial activities and their participation in the labour force.

More than 350 women entrepreneurs, businesspersons, and women interested in business management from all over the country participated in the summit that included discussions on the legal system related to women entrepreneurship and its implementation aspects under the topic of 'Women entrepreneurship policy and results'. The second session focused on women's access to finance, while the third session discussed market access.