Lalitpur Metropolitan City has once again shown the way, this time through the LMC HaatBazar app—an online marketplace where women entrepreneurs can directly showcase their products to consumers. Registered women entrepreneurs can post information about their products, while consumers can browse, order, and interact with vendors. Launched under the leadership of Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, the initiative aims to bridge the long-standing gap of having products but lacking access to markets. Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, who also coordinates the Women’s Entrepreneurship Facilitation Center, said that while many women create products, running a business is much more challenging. The app is designed to simplify this process and give entrepreneurs direct access to customers.
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In the past, the metropolitan office organized physical haat bazaars, but this time they are adopting a more permanent solution. By cutting out the middlemen, the app allows sellers and customers to engage directly—negotiating prices, ensuring product quality, and fostering transparency. Officials like Shobha Devi Kharel, head of the Women’s Section, expect the platform to boost trade transparency and empower women who often struggle to market their products. Experts have welcomed the initiative. Dr. Binod Krishna Shrestha from Kathmandu University School of Management said digital tools like this can reduce challenges for small entrepreneurs and create consistent opportunities for growth. To accompany the launch, an orientation session was held to train women in using the app and provide guidance on entrepreneurship. “This is not just a mobile application; it is a vision for inclusive growth,” he remarked, highlighting how technology can address community-level problems. For women in small-scale manufacturing, who face difficulties reaching wider markets, the app is a game changer—giving them both visibility and confidence to compete with established businesses.
The city government’s recognition of this need demonstrates how responsive local governance can be when it listens to its people. It also reflects the progressive path Lalitpur has taken under its current leadership. Mayor Maharjan has implemented several people-centric programs, from infrastructure development to livelihood assistance. The app is another step in that direction. “It’s not just about business; it’s about dignity, self-reliance, and recognising the vital role women play in the economy,” said officials. By enabling women to reach buyers directly, the city has broken systemic barriers that have long kept women at the margins of commerce. The timing is ideal, as digital adoption is growing in Nepal. If promoted widely, such platforms could transform local economies—making them more inclusive and resilient. Women entrepreneurs need more than encouragement; they need practical tools like this to thrive. Lalitpur has set an example for others to follow. If replicated, this model could accelerate women’s empowerment and strengthen local economies nationwide. The LMC HaatBazar app is a perfect blend of governance and technology with a clear purpose: to uplift communities. It is now up to others to catch up with Lalitpur’s vision.
