Top business entities in various sectors including banking, insurance and IT were awarded in the 9th edition of the NewBiz Conclave and Business Excellence Awards in Kathmandu on Thursday, June 26.

Organised by New Business Age with Asian Paints as the title sponsor, the annual event celebrated and honoured the excellence across Nepal’s business sector by honouring companies and entrepreneurs in nine categories.

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in Business Excellence was conferred on Babulal Chachan for his exceptional contributions to the development of trade and commerce in the country.

This year’s awards recognised Nepal Pharmaceuticals Laboratory Pvt Ltd as the Best Managed Company of the Year, while eSewa was honoured as the Best Managed IT Company. The state-owned Salt Trading Corporation Ltd received Special Recognition for its performance. Everest Bank Ltd was named the Best Managed Commercial Bank and Global IME Bank Ltd was awarded the Best Bank in Digital Financial Services. Muktinath Bikas Bank Ltd won the Best Managed Development Bank of the Year award and Shree Investment & Finance Company Ltd took home the award for the Best Managed Finance Company.

Similarly, National Life Insurance Company Ltd and Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Ltd were recognised as the Best Life Insurance and Best General Insurance Companies of the year, respectively.

An independent jury composed of experts from various sectors conducted a multi-stage evaluation to select the winners.

Earlier in the day, former Finance Secretary Rameshore Khanal, also the Chair of the High-Level Economic Reforms Recommendation Commission, delivered the keynote address, calling for a new wave of home-grown, structural reforms to revive investor confidence and accelerate economic growth. Khanal also laid out key governance and legal barriers impeding economic momentum—from opaque political financing to outdated, restrictive laws.

The conclave also featured a high-level panel discussion centred on the theme “Driving Growth Through Reform.” Panellists included Gagan Thapa, Member of Federal Parliament and General Secretary of the Nepali Congress; Jabbor Kayumov, CEO of Ncell; Moushumi Shrestha, Executive Director of Shreenagar Agro Group of Companies; and Bal Krishna Joshi, founder of Leapfrog Technology. The session was moderated by advocate Semanta Dahal.

In addition to Asian Paints, sponsors include Curvv EV, Asian Life Insurance Company, NIMB Ace Capital, Global IME Bank, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund, NLG Insurance Company, Assurance Incorporation, Green Valley Resort, FonePay, and Nepal Airlines, among others. Vogue Ad and Event Management is managing the event.