January 19: Women entrepreneurs have complained that they face a lot of problems in starting and operating a business. The women expressed this sentiment during an interaction programme on women entrepreneurship organized by Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and New Business Age, in coordination with Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI).

The programme was chaired by Nilam Baidya, chairperson of Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee of MCCI and Mina Lama, deputy mayor of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, was the chief guest. Sariddhi Shrestha, former chairperson of Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee of MCCI and Sita Bhetwal, women entrepreneur, also attended the programme and discussed the problems faced by women in business.

The participants complained about the hassles they faced and stated that the problems started from the registration process itself.

Speaking at the programme, MCCI President Krishna Katuwal accepted that women entrepreneurs face many problems. But he advised them to take initiative and not wait for government’s aid and grants. Similarly, MCCI Vice-president Krishna Kumar Gupta expressed the chamber’s commitment to solving the problems described by the participants. Jagan Nath Dahal, head of the Cottage and Small Industry Office, Makwanpur informed that the government was giving grant assistances of up to 80 percent to women entrepreneurs. He also clarified that the business registration fee was not a tax and that entrepreneurs need only pay taxes to the tax office.

However, Dahal complained that entrepreneurs did not pay back the subsidized loan they received. He cited this as the reason for women entrepreneurs facing problems in loan approvals.

TP Bhusal, chief reporter of Aarthik Abhiyan Daily (published by New Business Age) informed the participants about the Newbiz Business Women Awards the organization was organizing on the occasion of International Women’s Day.  Similarly, Bal Singh Pokharel, the New Business Age’s marketing manager, educated the women about various issues related to the operation and expansion of a business.

The title sponsor of the programme is Standard Chartered Bank Limited and it was organized in association with Muktinath Development Bank. FNCCI along with chambers of 10 different districts and Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs' Association of Nepal (FEWAN) are associate partners for the event while Star Hospital is the medical partner. The programme is also supported by Sitaram Gokul Milks, Nimbus Group, Progressive Finance and Reliable Life Insurance.

Upcoming programmes will be held in Narayangadh, Pokhara, Surkhet and Dhangadhi.