Development Heroes Awarded

 Kathmandu, Jan. 5

Ten individuals who have made significant contributions across ten different sectors have been honoured as Development Heroes.

They were recognised – for earning national and international recognition and contributing to nation-building – at the Development Hero Awards Ceremony organised by Bikas Media in Lalitpur on Sunday evening. Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal conferred the honors to the winners.

Among the awarded are Lalitpur Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan, from political culture, good governance and development sector, Chairperson of Golchha Group Shekhar Golchha from industrial sector, Chairperson of First Choice Foods Limited Krishna Prasad Paudel from agriculture, Chairperson of the RM Group Krishna Acharya from energy sector, and Executive Director of Dhulikhel Hospital Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha from professional service sector.

Likewise, Founder of the IME Group Hemraj Dhakal is awarded hero for his contribution in the information technology sector, Director of the Sanima Group Jiba Lamichhane for his creative and ethical entrepreneurship, Vice-Chancellor of Nepal University Professor Dr. Arjun Karki for education sector development and actress Surakshya Pant for her exceptional contribution to the arts and entertainment sector.

Finance Minister Khanal said that at a time when the morale of industrialists and businesspeople has weakened, such recognition would provide them a motivation and renewed energy to do more. According to him, boosting morale is essential to creating an investment-friendly environment in the country.

Minister Khanal noted that dissatisfaction among young people has been growing in recent times, and stressed the need for leadership capable of delivering good governance and making optimal use of limited resources and assets.

Speaking at the programme, Development Media Chairperson Ram Krishna Paudel said that at a time when despair is spreading on all sides, creative and motivational initiatives through the media can further encourage individuals. Likewise, Krishna Hari Baskota, Coordinator of the Development Hero Selection Committee, said that individuals who had performed excellently in their respective fields were selected and honoured in an impartial manner.

Similarly, Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that frustration has emerged as development in Nepal has not progressed as expected. “From a policy perspective, almost everything appears to be in place, but the problem lies in implementation. There is even confusion over who is responsible for carrying out implementation,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 January 2026. 

Entrepreneurs, veterans honoured with ICT Awards

Kathmandu, Dec. 20

The ICT Award 2025, organised by Living with ICT and ICT Foundation Nepal in Lalitpur the other day, honoured outstanding startups, innovations, entrepreneurs, individuals and institutions for excellence in the ICT sector across 17 categories. 

In individual categories, Dinesh Silwal won the Nepali Diaspora ICT Award 2025, while Bibhushan Bista received the Entrepreneur ICT Award.

Likewise, Dr. Alan Bailochan Tuladhar was honoured with the Pioneer ICT Award, Ram Krishna Pariyar with the Professional Excellence ICT Award, and Munni Rajbhandari with the Woman Icon ICT Award.

Under institutional categories, the Social Security Fund won the Digital Governance ICT Award. NMB Bank received the Digital Services ICT Award (Enterprise Sector), while Ambition Guru won in the Neo Sector. Narayani Secondary School, Chitwan, won the Digital Education ICT Award (Public Sector), and Kopila Valley School, Surkhet, won the Private Sector Award.

In startup and innovation categories, Arkbo Technologies won the in Drive Startup ICT Award, QuickCCA the Product ICT Award, Mindbridge the Rising Star Innovation ICT Award, and Kataho the Social Innovation ICT Award. Trip Turbo received the Hamro Pay Public Choice ICT Award, while Bangladesh-based PriyoShop won the South Asia Startup ICT Award 2025.

Seven startups from seven provinces were also recognised under the Province Startup ICT Recognition.

From Koshi Province, Medicab Technologies received the recognition, while Janaki Soft International was honoured from Madhes. Cloud Mandap was recognised from Bagmati Province, Brand Builder from Gandaki Province, Golden Technosoft IT Solutions from Lumbini, Everest Wireless Network from Karnali, and BG Infotex from Sudurpashchim.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel highlighted that ICT can no longer be ignored, noting the establishment of an AI Council and AI Centre within three months of the government’s formation and the ongoing preparation of a digital roadmap. 

Likewise, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha stressed that ICT has become essential for competitive and sustainable industrial development.

ICT Award Founder and Chair Rajan Lamsal said the platform has been working for a decade to identify, connect and strengthen Nepal’s ICT ecosystem. 

The organisers said the award process included six months of evaluation, multiple pre-events, public voting in selected categories, and jury assessments by national and international experts. The grand finale was broadcast live through television and digital platforms.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 December 2025.

FNCCI awards business firms, honours individuals

Kathmandu, Apr. 10

On the occasion of its 59^th anniversary, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) recognised and honoured a number of organisations and individuals for their exceptional contributions in various sectors.

Among the district and municipal chambers, Panchthar, Parbat, and Chitwan Chambers of Commerce and Industry were honoured in Group A for their active role in promoting local entrepreneurship and business development. In recognition of its contribution to Corporate Social Responsibility, the Sindhuli Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also felicitated.

From the sectoral category, the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal received a commendation award for its outstanding performance in promoting and preserving Nepal’s traditional craftsmanship. Likewise, Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, from the bi-national chambers, was recognised for its efforts in enhancing cross-border trade and economic cooperation.

The Koshi Province Office of the FNCCI was honoured for demonstrating exceptional performance and coordination at the regional level.

Similarly, the FNCCI awarded several companies for the highest income tax contributions during fiscal year 2022/23.

Dabur Nepal was awarded for being top contributor in the goods export sector, Nabil Bank Ltd. as the highest tax contributor among banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies, and Taragaon Regency Hotel Ltd. as the leading contributor from the tourism sector.

Likewise, Bhatbhateni Supermarket and Departmental Store was awarded for being top taxpayer in goods trading, Bhote Koshi Power Company Pvt. Ltd. from the energy-based industries, City Express Money Transfer Pvt. Ltd. for its highest contribution to remittance and money transfer services, and Varun Beverages Nepal Pvt. Ltd. was honoured from the special industries.

Meanwhile, Director Surya Raj Paudel and Deputy Director Bidur Chandra Lamichhane were presented with Letters of Appreciation for completing 25 years of dedicated service to the FNCCI.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 April 2025.       

Yadav Prasad Pant Journalism Award presented to Madan Lamsal

Kathmandu, Nov. 19

Yadav Prasad Pant Research and Development Foundation awarded two individuals and facilitated one who made significant contributions in the fields of journalism and society.

The Foundation conferred Yadav Prasad Pant Journalism Award to Madan Lamsal, Editor-in-Chief of New Business Age and Arthik Abhiyan Daily at a programme organised on the 100^th memorial day of the late Dr. Pant in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Likewise, Ramadevi Pant Social Award was presented to Prem Kumari Rai, Chairperson of the Home-Based Workers Women’s Dhaka Entrepreneurs Society while former Finance and Water Resources Minister Balaram Gharti Magar was felicitated on the occasion.

Speaking at the event, Gharti Magar remembered Pant as a warm-hearted and patriotic individual who significantly contributed to the development of the country and left a legacy in the field of economics and development.

Lamsal, who is active in economic journalism for nearly three decades, said that the award has motivated him to make further contributions to his profession.

Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Madhav Prasad Regmi, remembered Dr. Pant as a development architect and described him as not only a distinguished economist but also a skilled diplomat.

Dr. Pant, one of Nepal's leading planners and economists, earned his PhD in Economics from Banaras Hindu University in 1952. He briefly taught economics at Tri-Chandra College before serving as an economic advisor and finance secretary to the Government of Nepal. Later, he also served as a member of the National Planning Commission.

From 1958 to 1969, Dr. Pant worked as the Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank and later served as Nepal’s ambassador to Japan, where he secured vital economic aid for the country. He subsequently represented Nepal as an ambassador to Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 November 2024.