MAN hosts National Management Convention 2025, focuses on infrastructure financing

KATHMANDU: Management Association of Nepal (MAN) held National Management Convention 2025 in Kathmandu, on Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, the chief guest, addressed MAN President Mohan Raj Ojha and an audience of life members, general members, and representatives from MAN-subscribed institutions. He encouraged them to create 'an advanced, modern, and organised Nepal' through their platform.

Minister Paudel announced the government’s efforts to secure domestic and international investors through the 'Bikalpa Bikash Briddhi' initiative.

On the occasion, MAN’s 2025 theme paper titled 'Mobilising Domestic Resources for Infrastructure Financing', authored by Krishna Prasad Acharya with co-authors Roshan Shrestha and Nishant Khanal was released. The paper examines the potential of institutional investors in mobilising resources for infrastructure financing in Nepal, aiming to divert the surplus accumulated in citizens’ retirement, insurance, and investment portfolios. Acharya recommends forming a Nepal Infrastructure Investment Authority to facilitate this.

A panel discussion, moderated by Pushpa Raj Acharya, featured panellists Kushum Shakya, Professor of Economics at Tribhuvan University; Madan Dahal, Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority; Krishna Bahadur Adhikari, CEO of Nepal Infrastructure Bank; and Jitendra Dhital, CEO of the Employees Provident Fund. They discussed the proposed investment of capital towards infrastructure financing: Rs 529 billion from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Rs 226 billion from the Citizen Investment Trust (CIT), and Rs 82 billion from the Social Security Fund (SSF).

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal highlighted the low level of institutional investment in Nepal’s infrastructure development. He stressed the need for increased investment and the importance of ensuring proper returns and security for such capital.

Sushil Gyawali, CEO of Investment Board Nepal, and Bishwash Guachan, Executive Director at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), also endorsed MAN’s theme paper for 2025.

Former MAN President Bimal Prasad Koirala was honoured with the 'Lifetime Contribution Award'. Koirala, former Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary to the Government of Nepal and current advisor to the IIDS, is also an educator at Chaitanya Institute of Management.

President Ojha presented the 'Manager of the Year 2024 Award' to Urmila Shrestha, CEO of Salt Trading Corporation, recognising her oversight in business growth, stakeholder perception, transactional and transformational strategies, resource management, and impact on employees. Shrestha has led Salt Trading Corporation since 2007, bringing stability to the organisation and leading her team to sustained productivity.

Additionally, MAN Vice President Suman Pokharel presented Sneh Raj Bhandari, Head of Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability for Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal, with the 'Woman Manager of Recognition 2024' award.

The event also included a closed Annual Report Presentation from MAN leadership to its members, the release of MAN’s 44th Annual Nepalese Journal of Management titled ‘Byavasthapan’, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MAN and Tribhuvan University. Mahananda Chalise, Dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University, emphasised that skills fostered by universities in their students can only improve with valuable feedback from MAN.

MAN hosts the National Management Convention annually for its members, fostering community and encouraging in-person engagement between members and leadership.