Kathmandu: Validation and Coordination meetings for youth entrepreneurship programme was held on 15th December in Hotel La Himalaya, Kathmandu.
The meeting was jointly organized by Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (FNCCI) and International Labour Organization (ILO) under South Asian Leadership in Entrepreneurship (SALE) project of ILO.
The meeting was mainly focused on the presentation of the findings of the study of Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (EE). An ILO Consultant Juna Mathema had presented findings of her study. Her findings was based on her study with Nichollas Hudson in Kathmandu and Pokhara. They had selected certain pillars for their study and discovered major challenges.
Ms. Luisa Iachan, a technical officer, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, SME unit under ILO had presented her study about ILO's inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Approach. She had virtually joined a meeting through Zoom.
Participants in the meeting had provided their views, feedbacks, suggestions and recommendations in terms of policy making, fund raising, financial literacy, role of government, private sectors, organizationsand civil society. They had specially priotarized on the strong advocacy and identification of problems of young entrepreneur. Commitment had been done on the Potential next step and follow ups as well.
Special guest of a meeting was Binod Prasad Baral, Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. He said that the government with the coordination of Planning Commission has started the programme for startup business under Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. He further stressed on the importance of Human Resource Policy on all States. "Ministry is ready to support on research and facilitation so that traditional industries can be digitalized according to the demand of time", he said.
Meeting was chaired by DB. Basnet, Executive Committee Member of FNCCI and Chairperson of SME (Small-to-Medium Enterprise). Basnet opined on the importance of financial literacy and availability of funds in the large volume. "Soft loan has not been effective and fails to reach on the target groups," he said. "Government forms policies but does not implement them, at least Ministry of Industry should do," Basnet said.
The meeting was moderated and welcomed by Hari Poudel, an Assistant Director of FNCCI. Participants were among from different organization like Association of Youth Organization Nepal (AYON), Joint Trade Union Coordination Center (JTUCC), Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs' Forum (NYEF) and Government Officials.
