Speaking at program organized in the capital on Friday, they also demanded that the government implement the ´women craft village´ concept in all development regions of the country to promote women´s economic empowerment. [break]
“Though the cabinet has already approved the concept of women crafts villages, it has yet to be implemented,” Chhaya Sharma, president of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FWEAN), said, addressing the 9th annual general meeting of the federation. “We cannot say that nothing has been down to promote women entrepreneurship at the policy level, but the implementation aspect is poor,” she added.
Women entrepreneurs from 22 different districts, including Taplejung, Kalikot and Khotang, are in the capital to attend the general body meeting which will be followed by three-day workshop to enhance their entrepreneurship skill.
Bhawani Rana, vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said it is unfortunate that the government doing nothing to promote women entrepreneurship. “The existing industrial policy has provision to provide 35 percent tax incentive to women entrepreneurs. However, it has not been implemented,” she added.
In the program, Shila Nepali of Jajarkot and tea farmer Shanta Banskota shared their experience of working in rural areas. Saying that getting money to start business is a major challenge for women entrepreneurs, they urged the government and financial institutions to arrange easy collateral-free loans.
Responding to women entrepreneurs´ woes, Chief Secretary Lila Mani Paudel expressed commitment from the government side to support women entrepreneurs. “It is really encouraging to see more and more women starting business despite various challenges,” he added.
FWEAN, the umbrella organization of women entrepreneurs, at present has eight chapters. It plans to opens chapters in all the districts.
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