POKHARA, Aug 16: Surendra Raj Pandey, the chief minister (CM) of Gandaki Province, said that the provincial government has decided to  support women's entrepreneurship development.

Speaking at the conclusion of a 15-day learning and experience exchange and certificate distribution program organized by the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN), CM Pandey said that the provincial government has decided to support women’s entrepreneurship development through financial, physical, and moral assistance. Women operating two homestays in Baglung under the 'digitalization of businesses led by women entrepreneurs and economic empowerment of women through entrepreneurial development' project were the highlight of the program.

Stating that women are forced to become dependent due to the lack of entrepreneurship, CM Pandey said, 'Women earn income through entrepreneurship which also improves their standard of living. Overall, it helps to empower women and helps to become independent and empowered.

CM Pandey said that the homestays should provide a family environment to their guests. Stating that the many current homestays do not have such an environment, he said, “Homestays should reflect local culture and local products. However, people bring broiler chickens and vegetables from the city and go to the villages with the tourists.” He also said that homestays lacking local products and local culture will no longer receive subsidies. “Gandaki Province is one of the main tourist destinations. That is why Pokhara has been declared as the tourist capital. Pokhara is often the first destination for tourists visiting Nepal,” he said, “Let’s not be limited to just the number of tourists in Nepal. Instead, we have to focus on how much they spend in their journey and how it contributes to entrepreneurship."

Delivering a welcome speech at the program, Shobha Gyawali, president of FEWAN, Said that empowering women is crucial for economic empowerment. Stating that social and family responsibilities have obstructed women's entrepreneurship, she said, "Women's entrepreneurship is today’s need. Women have the right to become entrepreneurs and businesspersons. Everyone has to support." She also said that FWEAN has organized a digital literacy program for digital marketing to assist women in the production and marketing of their products.

Dipendra Bahadur Thapa, a member of Gandaki Provincial Assembly, said that it is essential to create an environment for those who go abroad to stay in Nepal. He said, “Let's make women independent and make tourism prosperous by showcasing our culture and nature.”

Abhilasha Poudel, executive director of FWEAN, said that the training was organized under the Standard Chartered Bank’ corporate social responsibility  with the goal of supporting women entrepreneurs and businesspersons to digitize their businesses.

Basanti Pradhan, the 3rd vice president of  FWEAN, said that the program was conducted to empower women and to empower them to become independent.

Board member of FWEAN and Gandaki Province President Parbati Paudel Regmi; president of Kaski, Saru Baral; president of Baglung, Uma Shakya; and the chief executive officer of Business Promotion Center, Pokhara, Nabraj Adhikari emphasized that the government should fulfill its responsibility to support women in the production and marketing of their products.

In collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank, FWEAN has provided two weeks of business digitization training to the owners and those interested individuals to operate Bhakunde Community Homestay and Atithi Satkar Homestay in Baglung. Additionally, certificates were also distributed to the training participants on the occasion of the concluding program held in Pokhara on Thursday.

On that occasion, FWEAN provided each homestay owner with a set of utensils, including a mat, pressure cooker, thermos, rice cooker, kettle, and other. Additionally, two sets of musical instruments were provided to the homestays. The participants in the training honored FWEAN President Gyawali for providing them the training opportunity.

 
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