BUILDING A SHARED VISION
Sugam Ghimire
Director, SG Group
Sugam Ghimire is the youngest director of the SG Group, a prominent second-generation conglomerate with a strong business presence in Nepal and India. He plays a key role in the family business and is responsible for trading, petroleum, tea, services, hydropower and the automotive verticals of the group, in addition to pursuing his own entrepreneurial ventures.
He serves as the Member Integration Chair of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Youth Entrepreneurs Forum (CNIYEF). In this role, he plays a pivotal part in connecting and integrating young entrepreneurs with industry leaders, fostering collaboration and innovation within Nepal’s business ecosystem.
SG Group excels in multiple industries; how do you balance leading different verticals?
In my experience, the key to success lies in identifying and assembling the right human resources for a given project. Building a team with complementary skills and a shared vision ensures that each aspect of a task is handled efficiently and with expertise. Equally important is the level of attention dedicated to each phase of the project. Maintaining a focus on every detail, no matter how small, ensures that nothing is overlooked.
How does your leadership at SG Group reflect your vision for growth and innovation?
Having been a part of the SG Group for the past eight years, my learning journey has been continuous and enriching. Over this period, my leadership vision has evolved with a strong focus on team empowerment. I believe that a cohesive, aligned team is the backbone of any successful organisation, and this alignment begins with ensuring that every member understands the targets and vision of the business entity.
Operating in Nepal presents its unique set of challenges, primarily due to the size of the economy, fierce competition and fluctuating stability. In such an environment, innovation and creativity are crucial for any business to thrive. Over the past five years, SG Group has made a concerted effort to invest in branding, which was previously not a major focus in our product strategy. Initially, our products required minimal branding, but over time, we have come to realise the importance of building a strong brand presence.
As a young entrepreneur and Member Integration Chair at CNIYEF, how are you fostering engagement and collaboration among young entrepreneurs in Nepal?
CNIYEF has provided an invaluable platform for learning, unlearning and integrating diverse perspectives from various stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, government officials, bureaucrats and other key players in the ecosystem. This dynamic environment has been instrumental in broadening my understanding of the intricacies involved in fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Our focus at CNIYEF has always been to promote and nurture the startup ecosystem through a variety of initiatives. We actively work on policy advocacy to ensure that the regulatory environment supports start-up growth, while also offering mentorship programmes that guide budding entrepreneurs through the complexities of starting and scaling businesses. Furthermore, we curate entrepreneurial festivals and programmes that bring together like-minded individuals and organisations, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Can you share insights into your upcoming venture and its alignment with SG Group’s vision for growth and innovation?
Our group is excited to announce the commencement of the development of a 48 MW hydroelectricity project in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal. This marks our fourth hydropower project, further solidifying our commitment to renewable energy and our vision of contributing to Nepal's sustainable energy future.
In addition to our growing focus on hydroelectricity, we have recently ventured into the importation and distribution of LNG and CNG, having become the sole importer of these products from Indian Oil Corporation. This strategic move expands our presence in the energy sector and complements our efforts to provide cleaner, more efficient energy solutions to the Nepali market. To support this initiative, we are actively working on establishing a state-of-the-art refilling and distribution plant in Simara, Nepal.
Furthermore, we are in the process of planning an upscale bar that will offer a premium experience to customers, complementing our hospitality initiatives. This venture reinforces our commitment to diverse, high-quality services that appeal to both locals and tourists.
