Kathmandu Youth Conclave today

Kathmandu, Aug. 22

To foster youth entrepreneurship, leadership, management, and industrial skills development, the ‘Kathmandu Youth Conclave 2025’ is being organised in the capital on Saturday.

Jointly organised by Universal College, Phoenix College of Management, and Aryan School of Engineering and Management, the conclave will focus on promoting entrepreneurship, leadership development, creating opportunities within Nepal, preventing brain drain, and contributing to academic development, according to the event coordinator, Raju Tandon.

The organisers hope the conclave will serve as an ideal platform to connect young people and empower them with essential leadership, entrepreneurial, managerial, and industrial skills.

Tandon said that the conclave is expected to provide proper guidance to students, encourage social engagement, and support necessary changes in traditional teaching methods.

Students from the Kathmandu Valley as well as major cities across the country are expected to participate in the event. “The objective is to promote innovation in education by moving beyond conventional teaching methods. The programme also aims to assist young students not just in their studies, but also in developing entrepreneurial and professional skills, and to connect them with insights and experiences from various celebrities and distinguished personalities,” read a statement issued by the organisers.

Likewise, the conclave aims to urge the government to take the concerns and demands of young students more seriously. The organisers claim that at a time when interest in going abroad is rising among youth, the event seeks to inspire them by highlighting the vast opportunities available within Nepal itself.

During the event, Sisan Baniya will be honoured as the KYC–2025 Youth Icon. MMA fighter Rabindra Dhant will attend as the Guest of Honour, and popular singer Durgesh Thapa will be awarded the title of Performer of the Year.

Former captain of the Nepali national cricket team, Paras Khadka, along with other artists and notable figures, are also expected to address the audience. The conclave will feature various stalls, a gaming zone, and performances by students.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 August 2025. 

Less than 3 per cent of aspiring migrant workers receive skill training: Report

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

Skill training for aspiring migrant workers has not been a priority for the government and other stakeholders.

According to statistics published by the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) and the Foreign Employment Board (FEB), only a small portion of youth willing to go for foreign employment have been provided with skill development training.

The FEB informed on Thursday that from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, 14,458 youth planning to fly overseas as migrant workers were trained on skill development and entrepreneurship in the last Fiscal Year 2024/25. This number is 96.38 per cent of the annual target of the Board.

But in terms of the total labour permits issued by the DoFE, this training has reached only about 2.9 per cent of the aspiring migrant workers.

A total of 493,312 youth obtained new 'labour permit' – 133,634 individual and 359,678 agency – to work abroad in the last fiscal year. Likewise, 333,305 obtained a re-entry permit from the DoFE. Including 12,653 individuals obtaining the permit to work in South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom under the Government-to-Government programme, 839,270 individuals obtained the labour permit.

Against this massive number, skill training reached only a small fraction.

Numbers are not encouraging in terms of upskilling the returnee migrant workers as well. Only 4,561 such returnees have been trained.

The FEB had targeted to train and upskill only 15,000 and 5,000 with willing to go for foreign employment and returnees, respectively.

At the press conference, the Board informed that it had set the target according to the available resources. For the current year, it has received the allocation of only Rs. 315 million for study and skill development training.

According to the DoFE statistics, 61 per cent of the Nepali workers going for jobs abroad in FY 2024/25 were classified as skilled, while 72 per cent (of 741,297 workers) who went abroad in 2023/24 were skilled.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 August 2025.

Manish new president of CNIYEF

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

Manish Shrestha has been elected as the President of the Young Entrepreneurs Forum of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNIYEF).

The Forum informed in a statement that its annual general meeting, held in Pokhara on Friday, elected a new executive committee under Shrestha’s leadership for the year 2025/2026.

Shrestha, the founder of Kazi Studio, has been involved with the forum for the past four years.

Outgoing president Ashish Agrawal administered the oath of office to the newly elected president and officially handed over responsibilities.

Members of Shrestha’s executive committee include Sugam Ghimire, Punit Agrawal, Nida Doon Mall, Yash Agrawal, Ankur Agrawal, Chirag Sarawagi, Saini Khetan, and Sujit Regmi.

During the annual general meeting, Sudaya Kant Jha was awarded for being the most active member. CNIYEF Lumbini received an award for enrolling the highest number of new members. Manish Shrestha, Sujit Regmi, and Arun Agrawal were presented with tokens of love for representing the forum at SAARC Tank Nepal.

Established in 2008, the Young Entrepreneurs Forum is the youth wing of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries. The forum prioritises encouraging and promoting young entrepreneurs.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 August 2025.

Ghimire elected new NYEF president

Kathmandu, July 19

The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF) has elected a new National Executive Committee for Fiscal Year 2025/26 under the leadership of Sudip Ghimire.

The newly elected Executive Committee includes Immediate Past President Kushal Sundar Shrestha, first Vice President Abhushan Jyoti Kansakar, second Vice President Nivita Pradhan, female Vice President Richa Shrestha, and members Krish Sapkota, Pabitra Bahadur Gautam, Subilasha Shrestha, Yunesh Raj Shrestha, Subin Shrestha and Abhimanyu Golchha.

The announcement was made during the organisation’s 21st Annual General Assembly held on Friday in Kathmandu.

Sudip Ghimire is an Executive Director of SG Group. The group operates in energy. He had begun his journey with NYEF in 2019 as the founding president of its Sunsari chapter and served on the national council since 2020.

In a statement issued on Friday, the NYEF – youth wing of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) – said that the Forum will focus on promoting innovation, inclusion, and impact in Nepal’s youth entrepreneurship landscape. It has also committed to building international partnerships with young entrepreneurs from neighbouring countries and fostering leadership and entrepreneurial thinking at the grassroots level by collaborating with schools, colleges, and youth communities nationwide.

The forum also pledged to identify challenges faced by youth-led businesses and advocate policy reforms in coordination with relevant authorities to create a more business-friendly environment in Nepal.

Speaking at the AGM, FNCCI, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, has called on young people to create opportunities within the country rather than seeking them abroad.

“There are plenty of opportunities in Nepal. One can do a great deal while staying here. Jobs can be created here itself. I urge the youth to generate opportunities within the country,” he said.

Dhakal reiterated FNCCI’s continued commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship and innovation and said that NYEF now holds ex-officio membership in the central committee of the federation under its recently amended statute.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 July 2025.   

IMR received IRIS certification

Kathmandu, June 10

International Manpower Recruitment (IMR) has received certification under the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS). 

This achievement positions IMR as the first organisation in Nepal and one of only a few globally to receive this recognition, the company informed at a press meet organised in Kathmandu on Monday.

The IRIS certification, a flagship programme of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is dedicated to promoting fair and ethical recruitment of migrant workers. 

"IMR's journey towards this certification began with the adoption of fair and ethical recruitment practices in 2016, alongside its traditional recruitment processes," said Pranay Rai, Director of Compliance Business at IMR.

Since 2018, IMR has been committed to 'employer pays' principle, ensuring that recruitment costs are borne by employers.

Managing Director of the company, YB Rai, said that following the completion of capacity-building phases and a mock audit, IOM recommended IMR for IRIS certification in August 2023. 

The formal IRIS certificate was awarded to IMR in May 2025, after a rigorous and comprehensive audit, the company informed. 

As an IRIS-certified recruitment agency, IMR has to fully adhere to clean recruitment principles aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, international labour standards, relevant provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), ILO's general principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment, and international human rights documents used by governmental regulatory bodies and the recruitment industry. 

The company claimed that since implementing its fully fair and ethical recruitment process based on the 'employer pays' principle in 2018, it has facilitated overseas employment for over 18,000 Nepali workers without charging any fees. 

The company has been sending workers to West Asia and Malaysia. It said that it is an option for the employer to identify ethical agencies like it. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 June 2025. 

NRNA to organise Youth Conference in Bangkok

 Kathmandu, Jan. 12

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)'s International Coordination Council is organising the second International Youth Conference in Bangkok of Thailand on 15-16 March this year.

The conference is being organised to empower Nepali expatriate youth and link them to Nepal’s progress and development.

"The conference aims to establish strong partnerships between Nepali expatriate youth, PNOs, and local youth in Nepal. It will serve as a platform for sharing success stories, struggles, and learning experiences, inspiring a culture of innovation and empowerment among the youth," said the NRNA in a statement issued after a press meet it organised to inform about the event.

Roshan Thapa, Vice President for Youth Affairs, and Ram Sharan Simkhada, People of Nepali Origin (PNOs) Division In-Charge and Vice President are leading the preparations of the event.

"As hundreds of thousands of Nepali youths continue to migrate abroad annually, the country faces a dwindling active population. In this context, it has become imperative to connect expatriate youth and the second generation of NRNs with their homeland, fostering a sense of belonging," said Simkhada.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of World War II, millions of Nepali-origin individuals residing in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, and Mauritius have sought to reconnect with Nepal’s prosperity and identity over generations. These individuals, proud of their Nepali heritage, identify as PNOs and are advocating for recognition and inclusion, according to the NRNA.

It informed that the conference will build robust ties between Nepali expatriate and local youth, and facilitate the creation of cooperative projects focusing on education, employment, and community development

It is also expected that it will support the establishment of a global network of empowered youths.

Meanwhile, following the youth conference, the 10^th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, titled 'Sangam', will be held on 18–19 March in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The conference is said to address critical issues such as the role of NRNs in nation-building, full implementation of non-resident citizenship, PNOs' demands, investment, tourism, and the contribution of Nepali experts abroad to Nepal’s progress.

Key topics of the conference include women’s empowerment, gender equality, dignified foreign employment, and social security. The event will also focus on strengthening collaboration between National Coordination Councils (NCCs) within the Asia-Pacific region through shared learning and experiences.

NRNA said that both events are expected to host over 300 delegates, including representatives from the Government of Nepal, officials from host nations, NRNA founders, former presidents, prominent activists, and delegates from NCCs across Asia-Pacific, Europe, America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 January 2025. 

CNY YEF forms its chapter in Madhes

 Kathmandu, Sept. 17

The youth wing of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries – CNI Young Entrepreneurs Forum has formed its chapter in Madhes Province.

The chapter is led by Rajat Bajaj while Ayosi Tulsiyana, Anunay Rungta, Anushree Agrawal and Deepak Sah are on the board.

Formed in 2008, the CNI-YEF is working to promote and encourage youth entrepreneurs in Nepal.

Speaking at the programme organised to announce the formation of the chapter on Monday in Birgunj, Chief Minister of Madhes, Satish Kumar Singh, expressed his commitment to encourage entrepreneurs. He said that a fund has been created to promote entrepreneurship in the province and that it was necessary to promote entrepreneurship to create jobs in the country.

He said that something should be done within the country when the youths are going abroad due to lack of employment. According to CM Singh, the provincial government wanted to move forward together with the private sector for the economic development of the entire country along with the province.

Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, President of the CNI, said that it was necessary to encourage, motivate and encourage young entrepreneurs for the overall economic development while increasing employment in the country and developing industrialisation.

"There are a large number of young people who return to Nepal after completing their study abroad to do something in their own country. It is necessary to encourage them for enterprise development in the country, and for this, the local, provincial and federal governments should create facilitating policies," said Agrawal.

Pramod Sah, President of CNI in Madhes, emphasised that young entrepreneurs should be encouraged through legal and policy provisions.

Ashish Agrawal, President of CNI-YEF, said that the economic development of Madhes province could bring prosperity to the entire country.

Likewise, Rajat Bajaj, expressed his belief that the state government would encourage and cooperate with young entrepreneurs.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 September 2024.

President Paudel for providing entrepreneurship opportunities to youth

 Kathmandu, Aug. 12

President Ramchandra Paudel has said that the youth of Nepal should be supported with opportunities in livelihood and entrepreneurship so that they could contribute to the development of the country.

"A policy is necessary to provide suitable opportunities for the special contribution of the youth in the overall development of the state," he said while addressing the Nepal Youth Summit 2024 organised by the United Nations in Nepal in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Youth Council in the Capital on Monday.

The summit was organised on the occasion of the International Youth Day.

According to President Paudel, there is a need for a new policy to address the needs and feelings of the youth, which have changed according to federalism, development of information technology and the changing social environment.

"To increase youth participation in national development, and create an environment for the full use of political, economic, social and cultural rights, it is necessary to provide special opportunities in the fields of education, health, employment, representation, sports and entertainment for the empowerment and development of the youth," said President Paudel.

He stated that to check the ever-growing migration of the youth out of the country in search of jobs, it is necessary to build skills and perseverance according to available resources and potential.

Development of positive thinking and patriotic self-respect and self-reliance towards the nation's prospects are the essential needs of today, he added.

Likewise, President Paudel stated that the youth are the vanguards of political, economic, social and cultural transformation, the conductors of change and the nation's priceless asset.

He said, "Due to courage, creativity, eagerness and high self-confidence, this group is considered the main source of nation building. Therefore, youth plays an important role in the overall development and change of the nation," he said.

President Paudel recalled that in order to formally address the concerns of the youth, the government has started institutional efforts since 2052 by establishing the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

He also recalled that for the first time since the ninth five-year plan, there was an attempt to include youth-related issues in the planned development effort. The Government of Nepal has defined people from 16 to 40 years of age as the youth.

President Paudel said that it is necessary to address youth-related problems and challenges in the context of the changing world environment, the latest developments in science and technology. "

To address these challenges, the youth should be dedicated to the nation and nationality, personal freedom, principles of universal human rights, recognition of democratic values, world peace, building a sense of co-existence, protection and enrichment of environmental heritage and maintaining tolerance between different races, languages, religions and cultures, he maintained.

According to the 2021 census, the youth population in the age group of 16 to 40 years in Nepal is 42.56 per cent of the total population.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Youth and Sports, Teju Lal Choudhary, said that the government has realised that the youth should be involved in the nation building.

"There is a need to connect youth to the technology and innovation," he said.

He expressed his commitment that the National Youth Policy 2081 would be completed and adopted within a couple of months.

Likewise, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, urged the youth to seize the opportunity in technology and business. "Youth have the power to build the opportunities in Nepal," she said while stressing on the favourable policies and programmes on youth development by the government.

Sunita Dongol, Deputy Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said that the metropolis has been implementing numerous programmes on youth employment, livelihood and entrepreneurship. "We are connecting indigenous skills to the livelihoods programmes," she said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 August 2024.        

Kushal becomes NYEF President

 Kathmandu, July 21

Kushal Sundar Shrestha, has been appointed as the President of the Nepal Youth Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF). He was serving as the Senior Vice-president of the organisation.

Nivita Pradhan assumed the position of the First Vice President, and Abhushan Jyoti Kansakar the Second Vice President. Reecha Shrestha has been appointed as Vice President for Women.

NYEF serves as the youth wing of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI).

The new executive committee includes Sudip Ghimire, Krishna Sapkota, Pavitra Bahadur Gautam, Bilasha Shrestha, Yunesh Raj Shrestha, and Subin Shrestha. Sahara Joshi, Immediate Past President, continues as an Ex Officio member in the new committee.

Selected based on key performance indices (KPIs), the new team will serve a one-year term. The newly appointed leadership and members took their oath of office and secrecy during the inaugural session of the 20^th Annual General Meeting held in Kathmandu on Friday evening. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari and President of the FNCCI, Chandra Prasad Dhakal were present on the occasion.

President Shrestha expressed commitment to ensuring every NYEF initiative, programme, and activity maximizes benefits for its members, supporting personal and professional growth. Priority areas include networking, learning and development, growth, promotion, and branding.

The new committee plans to implement a buddy system, mentorship programme, mini-olympics, entrepreneurship meets, sportsmanship events, a motor rally to Manang, and international trips. 

NYEF has 13 chapters across different locations in Nepal and more than 850 members. Its members have created around 30,000 job opportunities across the country. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 July 2024.        

PM stresses engaging youth to fight climate change

 Kathmandu, Dec. 3

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that he had emphasized the need to involve the young generation in the fight against the effects of climate change while addressing programmes at the World Climate Action Summit (COP28) of the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change held in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 29 to December 3.

"I have also called on the world community to adhere to the commitment to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees," he said while talking to journalists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport from the COP28 on Sunday evening.

He also emphasized that there should be no delay in financial investment and the mobilisation of technology to address the problems faced by least developed countries that are at risk of climate change.

PM Prachanda had informed the global community that Nepal has submitted the second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) in accordance with the commitment of the Paris Agreement and has also prepared a national adaptation plan.

Likewise, presenting the National Statement of Nepal, PM Prachanda drew the attention of the international community to the fact that even though Nepal's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is negligible, it is suffering the adverse effects of climate change unequally.

"It is unfair to Nepal, so it should have access to climate finance and climate justice," he said.

He visited the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, November 14 and instructed the mission to take coordinated initiatives to attract investment from the UAE to Nepal.

The Prime Minister addressed the Nepal-Dubai Business Forum jointly organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Dubai Chambers in Dubai in coordination with the Nepali Embassy where he called upon the UAE investors to invest in Nepal's priority areas as there is a suitable environment for investment in Nepal. "High officials of the UAE government present at the forum conveyed a positive message regarding the possibility of cooperation between Nepal and the UAE in the fields of trade and investment," said PM Prachanda.

During the programme, PM Prachanda met with Indian PM Narendra Modi and the latter expressed concerns about the impacts of the earthquake on the western region of Nepal and pledged necessary assistance to the victims of the quake. An earthquake of 5.7 magnitude had hit Jajarkot and Rukum West districts on November 3 and killed 157 people and damaged thousands of houses.

Likewise, in the sidelines of the summit, PM Prachanda met President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who is also the president of G77 and China, and talked about making the organisation effective as well as possible bilateral relations between Nepal and Cuba.

Meanwhile, addressing the High-Level Roundtable on Call of the Mountains: Who Saves us from the Climate Crisis?, he emphasised the need to take immediate action to minimise the adverse effects of climate change on mountainous countries like Nepal.

"Addressing the High-Level Roundtable as the key note speaker, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed the view that the adverse effects of climate change should not be delayed since the adverse effects of climate change are visible everywhere," PM Prachanda informed.

Recalling his recent visit to Nepal, Secretary General Guterres mentioned that he had seen with his own eyes the effects of climate change on Nepal's mountains, and stressed that nations should work with priority to help Nepal and protect mountains.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 December 2023. 

Country needs to focus on holistic development of youth: PM Prachanda

Kathmandu, Sept. 16

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said that the country needs to focus on the holistic development of the youth before it loses opportunities of demographic dividend.

"Development of youth is basically the development of society and country. This period of high youth population is a special situation in terms of demographic dividend, which may not last for a long time," he said while addressing the Nepal Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2023 in the Capital on Saturday.

According to the National Youth Policy, the population in the age group of 16 to 40 years is considered as youth. According to Census 2078, the population of such youth is 12.4 million which is about 42.56 per cent of the demography. "Therefore, without losing the demographic dividend, we should prioritize the development of the youth," said PM Prachanda.

"On the one hand, we have to use the knowledge, skills, competence, ability and experience of the youth to mobilise them for nation building, on the other hand, we have the responsibility to awaken hope, trust and dreams among the youth within the country," he stated.

According to him, change, development and transformation of the country is not possible without thinking about the future of millions of Nepali youths abroad. He maintained that the government is seriously working to protect their interests, ensure their safety and self-esteem, and create jobs within the country.

PM Prachanda also stated that the current government has made significant efforts in the field of social justice. "The process of connecting millions of youth to the Social Security Fund has been started. Within a few months, we have set a goal of linking about 2.5 million Nepali youths living abroad with the SSF," he said.

Likewise, the government has begun the work to connect the informal sector workers with the SSF. According to the PM, these initiatives will create an environment where the youth can see the future within the country.

PM Prachanda also added that the government has been working strategically for the meaningful participation of the youth in every field while developing various capabilities in them.

The government has announced to celebrate the current Fiscal Year 2023/24 as 'Youth Entrepreneurship Year'.

Facilitation of concessional loans, creation of youth-friendly investment environment, start-up, innovation and entrepreneurship have been given priority in order to show Nepali youth their future in the country, maintained PM Prachanda.  

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 September 2023. 

Local Conference of Youth on Sept. 15-16

Kathmandu, Sept. 9

The YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is organising the first ever Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) in Nepal.

The two-day event with the theme 'From vision to action: Youth powering climate action' is happening on September 15–16.

The LCOY Nepal said in a statement on Saturday that it aims to bring together the vision and ideas of young and enthusiastic Nepali youth from grassroots level where they can pave ways to flourish them into actions through joint effort.

"And, finally layout objectives will be taken to COP28 through the active involvement of Nepali youths from diverse fields," read the statement.

The two-day event will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions on climate change,                             its impacts, underlying causes, and the various initiatives undertaken by humanity in response. According to the organisers, they have prioritised their focus on key themes including climate justice and equity, youth empowerment, community engagement, climate finance, and governance.

The event will feature group presentations and panel discussions on these                                    critical topics, offering attendees a comprehensive understanding of climate-related issues and solutions.

Powershift Nepal is the lead organiser of the event while Sustainability Week Kathmandu, Thought for Food, Harin Nepal, International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA), Female Foresters Nepal (FFN), Youth Action For Sustainable And Eco Nepal (YASEN), Climates Nepal, Pravaha Collective, and Eco-Network are the co-organisers.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 September 2023. 

Shruti bags Teen Hero award

Kathmandu, Sept. 2

Shruti Tiwari, 18, an Environment Activist from Dhanusha, has won the title of Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2023.

Shruti was selected from among the top six finalists of the competition - Aryan Sigdel (17, Educator and Activist from Tanahun); Atith Adhikari (17, Social Entrepreneur from Banke); Madhav Khanal (18, Writer from Lamjung); Nirajan Rimal (18, Science Enthusiast from Kathmandu); and Preeti Pantha (18, Social Activist from Gulmi).

Organised by Glocal Pvt. Ltd with the support of the Golchha Group the other day, the award aims to identify and honor outstanding teenagers whose creativity, commitment, experience, and strong leadership have helped them achieve success in life.

Shruti is actively engaged in various social and environmental initiatives, demonstrating her dedication to creating positive change in society. As an advocate for children's rights, she has raised awareness about child marriages and abuse, partnering with organizations like Ekikrit Child Club to intervene in cases and safeguard children's futures, reads a note issued by the organisers.

She has taken part in impactful campaigns like the 'Plastic man’ campaign to reduce single-use plastic consumption. Additionally, she has led a successful tree-planting endeavour with organisations like Save the Children and WWF Nepal, making a positive impact on the environment.

Shruti has motivated over 20 Dalit and Janjati girls by sharing her personal journey of transformation. She also encouraged them to stand up for themselves and take active roles in society. Her efforts received international recognition, with BBC UK interviewing her for her outstanding work.

"Through active engagement and collaboration with various organisations and communities, she has been able to make a meaningful difference by stopping 12 child marriages and three child abuse and leave a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and society as a whole," read the statement issued by the organisers.

Announcing the winner, Asish Thakur, Chairman and Executive Director of Glocal, said that the initiation, passion and unique perspectives of the young talents bring a breath of fresh air to their endeavours.

The final six teenagers were selected from a pool of 681 applications from across the nation.

The applicants had demonstrated their skills and expertise, and made an impact in their society in areas like education, social activism, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and health.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 September 2023. 

Startup Conference being held this week

Kathmandu, Aug. 26

Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), University Grants Commission (UGC), PUM Netherlands senior experts, ICIMOD and Antarprerana Pvt. Ltd. are jointly organising 'Nepal Startup Nation 2030' for startup promotion and create better environment for them.

The FNCCI said in a statement on Saturday that the conference, to be held on 28-29 August, would play a pivotal role in terms of collaboration and commitment for startup development.

The conference is supported by GiZ Nepal and NYEF.

"This two-day long conference is being held for the second time after the huge success last year. The main objective of this conference is to build strategy, directions and plan through collaboration and commitment to shape Nepal as a startup-friendly nation in South-Asia by 2030," read the statement.

According to it, a Startup Nation is characterized as a country dedicated to fostering conditions and embracing values that create a favourable environment for startups, recognizing the positive impact they bring to society.

It signifies the widespread adoption of these conditions and values throughout the nation, ensuring equal opportunities for all entrepreneurs to succeed with their startups, regardless of their location. In essence, a Startup Nation fosters the development of a thriving Startup Ecosystem that nurtures the growth, quantity, quality, and success rate of startups, said the FNCCI.

The two-day conference will have eight thematic parallel sessions, plenaries, interactive workshops, and startup storytelling. It is bringing together an array of prominent figures, including representatives from government bodies, industry leaders, academia, entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders and enablers, startups and students from all over Nepal. Experts from India, Bangladesh and the Netherlands will share their experiences.

The event aims to establish a tight-knit community of like-minded entities, collectively steering strategies, policy frameworks, and publications that propel the growth of startups. Through collaborative discussions and workshops, critical gaps in resources, partnerships, knowledge, and policies will be addressed, fostering a more robust and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 August 2023. 

Finance Minister urges youths to exploit business opportunities

Kathmandu, Aug. 12

Finance Minister, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that he has allocated a significant amount of budget for the development of youth entrepreneurship, startup, information technology and research.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Association of Youth Organisations Nepal (AYON) on the occasion of the International Youth Day on Saturday, he urged the youth to take the necessary information from the relevant agencies and exploit the opportunities.

"Because a large number of the country's manpower has gone abroad, a shortage of skilled human resource has been created here. There are many opportunities in the country so even if you are pursuing your higher education abroad, I request you to return to Nepal immediately," Minister Dr. Mahat said, adding that there is a lot of potential here.

"It is our basic right to choose, no one can restrict our competence, ability, creativity and potential in what we do and where we go and work," he further stated.

FM Dr. Mahat, in his budget for the current Fiscal Year 2023/24, has announced that this would be celebrated as the Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion Year.

Mentioning that great potential is seen in information technology sector recently, the
Finance Minister said that a large amount of money is being brought into Nepal exporting software. This is the sector which does not require a huge investment but dedication and efficiency, according to him.

If someone wants to invest in information technology, the government has decided to give 50 per cent income tax discount. The government will also provide the foreign currency needed to spread the IT business in the world market by staying in Nepal.

“There was an error in our system and the trend of non-functioning was growing. We are trying to fix that challenge. Due to the lack of resources, we could not do many things even if we wanted to," FM Dr. Mahat said. "Now our economy is moving on the right path."

In the budget of the current fiscal year 2022/23, he has allocated Rs. 1.25 billion to develop start-up businesses and has announced that a start-up eco-system would be created to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

An incubation centre would also be established and operated in Kathmandu to support the realisation of entrepreneurial concepts. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 August 2023.   

Startup Fest draws commitment of Rs. 245 million investment

Kathmandu, June 26

A preliminary agreement has been reached for the investment of Rs. 245 in various startup businesses at the CNIYEF Nepal StartUp Fest 2022 organised by the Young Entrepreneurs' Forum of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) the other day in Kathmandu.

An initial investment agreement has been signed with the successful startup that reached the final of the competition. The YEF had called for investment proposals including projects to participate in the Startup Fest.

The fest had received more than 300 project proposals from across the country. Among them, the shortlisted projects were given the opportunity to present themselves at the fest. After the presentation in the presence of Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology, Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, the investors have reached a preliminary agreement to invest equity in the projects.

Startups with initial investment agreements include VoxCrow, Skill Services Private Limited, Team Veda, Kheti, Darkmatter Game Production, Digital Age Nepal, and Doctors on Call.

Team Ventures, Global Equity Fund, Adhyanta Fund Management, Himalayan Capital and Televenture Partners have signed agreements with those startups.

At the closing ceremony of the Startup Fest, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma presented awards to the shortlisted projects. He also said that the budget has given priority to the startups.

Earlier, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu had said that the government has given high priority to cooperation with the private sector for economic prosperity. He said that the government was ready to encourage young entrepreneurs.

The Startup Fest was organised with the support from the National Planning Commission, Youth and Small Business Self-Employment Fund and the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

More than 40 startups had showcased their products and services at the Startup Fest. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 June 2022.   

Applications for Teen Hero open

Kathmandu, May 31

Application for WaiWai Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2022 is opened from Tuesday, May 31.

The organiser Glocal Pvt. Ltd. said that the eighth edition of the competition that honours and elevates teenagers by allowing them to share their passion and creativity will be conducted physically after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is a platform that recognises the teenagers who are doing something beyond their academics and are active to create a positive effect in their society," it said.

From the activation session, selection process to the awarding ceremony, everything will be done physically.

The company said that it will be reaching out to 55 different cities of Nepal interacting with teenagers. It is a programme where teenagers from 13 to 19 years of age can apply online at www.glocalteenhero.com/nepal. Besides, one can also nominate incredible teenagers they know in their community.

The screening and interview of the finalists will be done by a jury team composed of Adarsh Avasthi, Country Director of the Coca-Cola Company for Nepal, Nona Deprez, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal, Saurabh Jyoti, Director of Jyoti Group of Companies and Chairman of Syakar Trading Company, Shekhar Golchha, Chairman at Golchha Group Pvt. Ltd. and Vidushi Rana, Director of Marketing, Branding and Business development at Gold Star shoes.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 June 2022. 

ILO launches SALE programme

 Kathmandu, Dec. 1

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office for Nepal has initiated a programme boost young people's transition into the entrepreneurship and create shift in the entrepreneurial ecosystem through strategic intervention.

It has launched the South Asia Leadership Entrepreneurship Programme (SALE) covering Nepal and Sri Lanka for the same on Wednesday. The programme is supported by the US Department of State.

Speaking at the programme, Senior Vice President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal stressed the need of stronger links between public and private sectors to facilitate technology for boosting the startups ecosystem in South Asia.

"It is of no doubt that due to weak ecosystem for startups, the startups in South Asia region face a number of challenges. It is crucial time to build stronger links between public and private sector to facilitate technology, which can help boost the startups ecosystem in South Asia," he said.

He further said that FNCCI had been facilitating and supporting entrepreneurship development, especially for women and youths through iHub and Startup and Innovation Committee. 

"The iHub at FNCCI, which is the innovation hub, has been active in organising many programmes related to startups, innovation," he said adding, "We, at iHub, provide aspiring entrepreneurs and startups the space where they can access information to learn about various activities related to entrepreneurship, marketing and information technology."

He also informed that the FNCCI was planning to run incubator centres in all seven provinces in partnership with the government of Nepal.

Director of ILO Nepal, Dr. Richard Howard, Chief Technical Officer of SALE Project, Dr. Thomas Kring, and President of Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre, Jagat Simkhada stressed on creating better environment for youth entrepreneurship and enhance coordination for the same. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 December 2021. 

Technopreneur Pranjal becomes Teen Hero Nepal 2021

Kathmandu, Sept. 3

Pranjal Chalise, 19 years old Technopreneur from Kathmandu, has won the ‘Wai Wai Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2021’ award.

The organiser Glocal Pvt. Ltd. organised a virtual award ceremony the other evening to announce the award.

Chalise was selected among the top six finanlists - Anurag Chapagain, 18, Youtuber, from Nawalparasi, Deepak Sutihar, 19, Social Entrepreneur from Saptari, Khusbu Bhandari, 18, Wildlife Conservationist from Chitwan, Neha Gurung, 19, Social Activist from Kathmandu and Sabhya Rai, 19, Education Activist from IIam.

Chalise has aided the blind community by inventing Drishti Nepal, which helps visually impaired people in currency bills recognition and cash transactions.

Likewise, he has developed a mobile application that provides agricultural news and information from authentic sources. His another app is a Women Safety app to ensure the security of women and ensure they are not deprived of opportunities due to their safety reasons.

His other two educational apps have 7,500 users.

Chalise has also initiated a non-profit tech venture E-educators Nepal, which enhances the quality of online education and makes educational resources more accessible.

Furthermore, he is the member of the board of Initiative in Nepal Foundation, and currently working on a research paper about the Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts and the ways in which technological advancement can mitigate the costs of elongated transaction processes.

The organiser said that it was the seventh iteration of the Glocal Teen Hero Award, which is the only national platform in Nepal to identify and honour outstanding teenagers whose creativity, commitment, experience, and strong leadership have helped them achieve success in life.

About 611 teenagers had applied for the competition.

Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal Nona Deprez, Director of Marketing, Branding and Business Development at Gold Star Shoes Vidushi Rana, Managing Director of CG Corp Global Varun Chaudhary, Country Director of Coca-Cola Company for Nepal Adarsh Avasthi and Director of Jyoti Group of Companies Saurabh Jyoti were the judges in the competition.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 September 2021. 

Application opens for Teen Hero 2021

Kathmandu, Jun. 11

Glocal Pvt. Ltd. has announced the application opening of Wai Wai Glocal Teen Hero Nepal for 2021.

The application for participation and nomination are both available online, said the company in a statement on Friday.

The programme is an initiation to bring out the teenagers who are doing something beyond their academics and are active to create a positive effect in their society.

Amidst the second wave of COVID -19 in Nepal Glocal Teen Hero is set to go virtual this year as well and selection process to the awarding ceremony shall be done virtually, according to the company.

Teenagers from Nepal can apply via online www.nepal.glocalteenhero.com. The deadline for the submission of the application is July 30, 2021.

"From the total number of applications and document review top six finalists will be shortlisted for the final round of Glocal Teen Hero –Nepal based on their initiation, impact and sustainability of work and the attitude," read the statement.

The jury team will be composed Nona Deprez, Ambassador of Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, Vidushi Rana, Director of Marketing, Branding and Business development at Gold Star shoes, Varun Chaudhary, Managing Director of CG Corp Global, Adarsh Avasthi, Country Director of Coca-Cola Company for Nepal and Saurabh Jyoti, Director of Jyoti Group of Companies and the Chairman of Syakar Trading Company.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 June 2021.