Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari has stated that becoming a woman entrepreneur is not just about running a business but also about empowering the family financially.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the International Women’s Leadership Conference here today, Minister Bhandari said that women’s leadership and entrepreneurship are the foundations for building a prosperous nation.
He said, “Women entrepreneurship is about creating employment in a community and ultimately strengthening the dignity and self-reliance of the nation. When we talk about women leadership and entrepreneurship, we are not just discussing gender equality, but also addressing the main drivers of nation-building.”
Minister Bhandari clarified that the development of women entrepreneurs is essential to realize the national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’.
He added that various programmes are currently being implemented, including women’s entrepreneurship development programme, technology transfer, business-related services, startup programme, and initiatives to promote the artisan community.
“There is a prevalence of small, home-based, and micro industries in Nepal. Most of them are led and run by women. In sectors such as food processing, herbal products, tea, coffee, handicrafts, and tourism, the skills of Nepali women have made it possible for them to compete in the international market,” the Minister for Industry said.
He mentioned that export-oriented production strategies and topics like climate change are extremely relevant for the entrepreneurship sector.
“AI is no longer a technology of the future; it is a reality of the present,” he said, adding that women entrepreneurs will be able to improve production processes, analyze customer behaviour, and enhance business efficiency through its use.
Minister Bhandari emphasized the need to advance the concept of green entrepreneurship. He stated that since climate change has a greater impact on mountainous nations like Nepal, it is essential to transform the solution into an opportunity.