The fifth edition of the NewBiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2025, organized by New Business Age, concluded in Kathmandu on Wednesday, May 7, by honoring 13 exceptional women entrepreneurs from across Nepal.
New Business Age has been organizing this annual event since 2021 with the aim of encouraging women engaged in entrepreneurship and recognizing their contributions to the country’s economic landscape. This year’s event brought together key stakeholders, innovators, and professionals to celebrate women’s leadership in business.
Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister and former Finance Minister, attended the event as the chief guest. Krishna Bahadur Rawat, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, was present as the special guest.
The program, sponsored primarily by Prabhu Bank, began with a panel discussion centered on the theme, “Redefining Women’s Role in Business.” The session featured insights from Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, member of the National Planning Commission; Prasanna Basnet, founder of Cotton Mill Nepal; and Astha Sharma, Managing Director of Code Rush. Engineer Mahesh Mahato, founder and Managing Director of Cosmic Electrical Limited, moderated the discussion.
In the awards segment of the event, 13 women were recognized for their entrepreneurial excellence across various sectors. The NewBiz Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 was presented to Gyanishobha Tuladhar of Namuna College of Fashion Technology, Kathmandu, for her long-standing contributions to fashion education and industry in Nepal. The Best Woman Entrepreneur award went to Aabha Shah of Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, Kathmandu, for her role in promoting hospitality education.
Sunaina Pandey of General Technology Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, was recognized with the Woman in Tech award, while the Professional Woman award was conferred on Sangeeta Thapa of Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu. Ganga Chhantyal of Unique Sewa Garment, Kathmandu, was honored as the Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur. Keshma Thapa of KB Agro and Research Company, Dhading, received the Youth Woman Entrepreneur award for her achievements in agriculture and research.
In the Emerging Enterprising Woman category, one woman from each of Nepal’s seven provinces was honored. From Koshi Province, Deepa Gurung of Green City Ilam Lollipop Industry, Ilam, received the award. Kabita Khadka of Madhya Nepal Press, Parsa, was recognized from Madhesh Province, while Geeta Amatya of Amatya Stores, Nuwakot, received the award from Bagmati Province. Rajani Sharma Chapai of Rakshya Chapagai Stores, Kaski, represented Gandaki Province, and Prem Kumari Pun of Prem Nisha Allo Yarn and Ready-made Garment Industry, Dang, was awarded from Lumbini Province. From Karnali Province, Kalsa Devi Chaulagai of Karnali Agro Industries, Surkhet, was honored, and Indira Regmi of Ruin Slippers Industry, Achham, received the award from Sudurpaschim Province.
The recipients in the Emerging Enterprising Woman category were each awarded a cash prize of Rs 51,000. These prizes were personally sponsored, as in previous years, by Prema Rajya Laxmi Devi Singh, Chairperson of National Life Insurance Company.
The awardees were selected from among more than 2,000 women entrepreneurs nationwide through a multi-stage evaluation process carried out by an independent panel of judges. The panel comprised Basanti Pradhan, Urmila Shrestha, Shrijana Rana, and Sahara Joshi.
The event was supported by several corporate partners and institutions, including Salt Trading Corporation, Citizens Life Insurance, Citizens Bank International, Muktinath Bikas Bank, Everest Bank, NLG Insurance, Nabil Bank, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Sitaram Gokul Milk, Krishi Bikas Bank, Reliable Life Insurance, City Express Money Transfer, and Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance (Salico). Event logistics were managed by Vogue Ad and Event Management.
