BIRATNAGAR, Aug 12: Shova Gyawali, President of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN), has emphasized the need for the government to provide special incentives to small and medium entrepreneurs to address the growing problem of youth migration.
Speaking at a program organized on Monday in Biratnagar on the occasion of International Youth Day, she said promoting entrepreneurship can create opportunities for young people within the country.
President Gyawali informed that the federation has been continuously working from the federal to local levels to encourage youth entrepreneurship. Highlighting that the majority of youths going abroad are male, she argued that encouraging women in entrepreneurship would bring double benefits to the country’s economy and job creation.
“Since more males migrate abroad from Nepal, it is necessary to encourage women to become entrepreneurs through entrepreneurship,” she said. “This is the time to prevent despair. Let’s develop entrepreneurship to enable Nepalis to earn their livelihood here in Nepal.”
She also stressed the importance of investing based on education, employment, and skills.
President Gyawali vows to unite women entrepreneurs as FWEAN la...
Speaking at the program, Mohan Kumar Subedi, Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, said there is no alternative but to advance youth for development.
He emphasized the need to change the current development model, noting that Nepal’s traditional subsistence farming system results in limited production and difficulties in exports.
“Due to Nepal’s traditional subsistence agriculture, it is impossible to produce large quantities of a single product, making foreign export difficult,” Subedi said.
He also shared that the provincial government is in the final stages of preparing to provide interest-free loans to youth entrepreneurs through the ‘Udaya Project.’
“The loans will begin to be disbursed from the third week of September,” Subedi added.
Moreover, the provincial government plans to promote products made from local raw materials as gifts.
Young entrepreneurs in the program shared their experiences and challenges. Youth entrepreneur Nar Shrestha said today’s youth are confused about what to do next.
“While everyone is migrating abroad, youth are uncertain whether to stay in Nepal or go abroad. However, opportunities and change are in our hands. We must make the effort ourselves,” he said.
Another young entrepreneur, Dinesh Shrestha, urged the immediate implementation of the provincial government’s ‘Udaya Project.’
Similarly, young entrepreneur Sagar Raj Dhungana emphasized that continuous struggle leads to success.
“Failure only comes when you give up. Small thinking leads to small results, but big thinking brings great change,” Dhungana said.
Sita Thapa, Director of Chinari Media, said the time has come for youth to show their work rather than just talk.
The FWEAN has formed chapters in all 77 districts and has begun forming a provincial committee in Koshi Province.
According to President Gyawali, committees will be formed in all seven provinces within a week. The program also honored youth entrepreneurs and other personalities.
