A roundtable discussion on upscaling Entrepreneurship Development Fund (EDF) for women run small medium enterprises (SME) was held at Hotel Annapurna on Monday. The event was hosted by the Federation of Woman Entrepreneur’s Association of Nepal (FWEAN). 

The discussion was based on upscaling the EDF loan to support the growth and sustainability of women-owned ventures. Moreover, it also discussed the possibilities of generating employment opportunities to improve the national economy.

The presentation on ‘Research Findings and Experience’ by the FWEAN General Secretary, Darshana Shrestha, showed the urgency to upscale the current EDF to up to 2.5 million at an interest rate of 6% for women entrepreneurs to increase work efficiency.

Satrugan Pudasainee, Director General of Department of Small and Cottage Industry (DCSI) also spoke in favor of Shrestha’s presentation and urged that the program needed to target export-oriented entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses. 

FWEAN, established in July 2003 is an apex body of Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal (WEAN). FWEAN is affiliated with 30 district chapters that represent over 3,000 women entrepreneurs, mostly in micro and small and medium-sized sectors.