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Online Shopping in the Dark The cover story published in New Business Age May 2014, was thought provoking. In the developed countries, the shopping experience has gone online. In those countries, it is probably getting more popular than offline shopping, as it is more convenient to purchase from the comfort of home and each and every possible products can be purchased from trustworthy sellers. Here in Nepal, the online shopping is yet to begin in my opinion. Large stores and offline sellers are yet to go into the online platform so that buyers can feel that they will not be cheated while paying online before goods arrive and they will also be offered other services like return policy and after sales services. Similarly, the biggest hurdle is the lack of online payment system. We do not have PayPal and similar online payment platform existing in Nepal. Though some of the commercial banks are offering Internet banking system as a payment option, it is yet to be used widely by both sellers and buyers and on top of that it is yet to become a trusted mode of payment even for those living in cities like Kathmandu.
As of now, online shopping in Nepal is limited to bill payment and sending gifts by those living abroad. Also, the range of products available online compared to offline store is too limited. This has to do in the absence of online platform and sellers’ reluctance to go online. Online shopping is not only about availability of goods on the Internet and being able to buy it but also to do with the delivery of goods, trust of buyers on sellers and sellers’ trust on buyers as well as after sales services. This is yet to be materialised in our context. Hamrobazar.com is one of the popular websites similar to eBay but it is yet to fully go online, as online payment is still not possible. So far online shopping is just a form of window shopping where customers get information about the products, do some research about it before making buying decision and eventually go to the physical store and buy it. Despite the growth of the Internet usage and more people’s presence in the Internet, online shopping in the virtual store and paying through the virtual counter needs rapid transformation in various fields before real online shopping begins in Nepal.
- Swikriti Baniya, New Baneshwor
Nepal: Global Auto Hub
Reading the story entitled "Nepal Emerging as a Global Auto Hub" in the December 2013 issue of New Business Age, it is really funny, as well as frustrating at the same time, that we are forced to pay the highest import taxes for automobile in the world. The general public feels that the government bullies them. In our small developing country, is it fair for the government to extract almost half of the total revenue from this sector?
- Binod Kumar, Via Email
Youth Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship
Youths are the drivers of development process. It is high time to ensure that they possess skills and resources that contribute towards economic growth and development. The job opportunities are far less than the demand. As such the only feasible option left is to lead youth into the field of entrepreneurship. It provides them to have exposure, experience, turn their passion into profits and revenues and also bring some innovative and creative ideas in the market. They can explore new career, opportunities and adapt their own interest and skills. Technical and vocational education should be provided in such a way that it invokes a sense of enterprise culture and entrepreneurship and stimulates entrepreneurial thinking, etc.
There are some problems that youths are facing in Nepal, like, (a) not enough capital to start with, (b) inadequate skills and experience, (c) lack of social interaction and networking. These problems need to be addressed by providing the skills and education necessary and it is the youths’ responsibility as well to grab the opportunities and get the education required and enhance their skills.
There are some ways in which these can be addressed and youth empowerment can take place through entrepreneurship. Unemployed youths should be encouraged for self employment. Various parts of the society also can play a key role in strengthening the institutions to empower youth through entrepreneurship. The government of Nepal too can play a vital role in boosting these kinds of schemes and institutions.
Through entrepreneurship, youths can gain direct ownership of their achievements. The journey of entrepreneurship will be a little difficult, but by encouraging participation, skills development and youth-leadership, young people will be able to self determine their future.
- Saloni Mahehshwari, Via Email
Successful Agro Farm
The success story of Shreenagar Agro Farm published in New Business Age’s February 2014 issue was an inspiring story. What Mr Satish Shrestha did and got success in his project is also a part of my dream. I wish all the best to the Shreenagar Agro Farm and its team.
- Organicsanu, Via Email
Rise of Health Sector
The story published in New Business Age’s September 2013 issue titled ‘Health Is Wealth: The Rise of Private Hospitals in Nepal’ was a good one. I was searching about the healthcare industry in Nepal for a long time, but wasn’t able to find a better mind booster than this. I thank you for your effort to write a comprehensive and informative write-up. It would be commendable, if you could find data on various quality indicators in hospitals. For example: waiting time in public as well as in private hospitals or average length of stay. I found for IOM its 7.2 days which is quiet high and really affect the hospital profitability. Is it same in the private sector?
- Bimala, Via Email
Mail your feedback to P O Box 14197, Kathmandu or Email to [email protected]
The mail will be edited for the purpose of clarity and brevity.
