SAWDF hands over memo to PM Dahal; urges to support Green Industrial Park project

KATHMANDU: A delegation of the South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF) headed by President, Pramila Acharya Rijal, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, today. During the visit, SAWDF President Rijal briefed the Prime Minister about the First Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park project, initiated by SAWDF in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies (MoICS) and Panchkhal Municipality at Hokse, Panchkhal Municipality, Kavrepalanchok district, Province 3. The park will be branded and promoted as an 'Agri-Tourism Green Industrial Park', with the goal of advancing Nepal's green industrial concept through well-integrated climate change adaption strategies. This innovative project will establish 50 small industries related to the agro-food sector as well as the tourism-focused service sector which is the first of its kind in Nepal and the second in South Asia. This project replicates a successful project from the 'Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India' – SAWDF’s official working counterpart in India, which has completed five successful women entrepreneurs’ industrial parks on a public-private partnership (PPP) model in Hyderabad, India. Mahesh Kharel, Mayor of Panchkhal Municipality, who was also present on the occasion, informed that the municipality has allocated a hundred ropanis of land on lease to the SAWDF for 25 years for this project. He highlighted the benefits of the project, with increased productivity for farmers, the creation of high-quality processing infrastructure, and an efficient supply chain system, with significant direct and indirect employment generation. A memorandum was handed over to the prime minister urging him to support the Green Industrial Park by allocating a budget under the government's special programme for women entrepreneurs. The SAWDF delegation urged the government to make a law in the form of the Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park Act for establishing similar parks in six other provinces. The memorandum emphasized the importance of women entrepreneurs' role in the national economy with a focus on implementing such projects which would create an environment conducive for micro, small and medium women entrepreneurs. READ ALSO: 

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