UK FCDO discusses promoting women and youth entrepreneurship in Nepal
LONDON:- Discussions have been held on making the collaboration with the UK more effective in the areas of women and youth empowerment, entrepreneurship promotion, and economic development in Nepal.
During a meeting with representatives from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), detailed discussions took place regarding making programs implemented in Nepal and the South Asian region more result-oriented, as well as connecting women and youth with economic opportunities.
During the meeting, experiences and suggestions were shared regarding the social and economic empowerment of women and youth, entrepreneurship development, skill enhancement, market access, leadership development, and opportunities for international cooperation.
During the discussion, experiences from the study and knowledge-exchange visit—organized in Manchester, UK, last year through the FCDO and related British programs—were also shared. Nepali women entrepreneurs had participated in that program.
Shobha Gyawali, Immediate Past President of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN), stated that the program highlighted a key issue: while many Nepali women entrepreneurs possess the capability to produce quality goods and expand their businesses, they lack practical knowledge regarding access to international markets, export procedures, necessary standards, documentation management, business networking, and market linkages.
She stated that the opportunity to exchange experiences and expand business connections with over 50 women entrepreneurs from various countries in Manchester helped the participating Nepali women entrepreneurs gain a better understanding of the potential for taking their businesses to the international market.
During the meeting, emphasis was placed on continuing programs focused on the exchange of studies and experiences, learning, mentorship, and the establishment of international professional networks. It was highlighted that merely providing training to women entrepreneurs is insufficient; there is a need to connect them with actual markets, facilitate the exchange of experiences with international entrepreneurs, and provide practical knowledge regarding export procedures.
Discussions were also held regarding potential collaboration between Nepali women entrepreneurs and the UK in areas such as technology, access to finance, business expertise, product branding, packaging, quality certification, digital marketing, export procedures, and expanding connections with international buyers.
The view was expressed that the collaboration should not be limited merely to conducting training, but should instead involve developing programs that span the entire value chain—from production to the domestic market, from the domestic market to exports, and from exports to business expansion.
It has been stated that a large number of women entrepreneurs in Nepal could benefit if the UK’s experience and international networks in the fields of women’s entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development were linked with Nepali women entrepreneurs, the private sector, business associations, the industrial and commercial sectors, and local organizations.
Entrepreneur Gyawali stated that emphasis was placed on evaluating the program’s achievements not merely by the number of trainees, but by the number of women entrepreneurs who expanded their businesses, the number of jobs created, the volume of goods and services exported, and the number of women who became economically self-reliant.
he meeting with the FCDO is expected to create new opportunities for cooperation between Nepal and the UK in areas such as the empowerment of women and youth, entrepreneurship, and economic collaboration. Emphasis has been placed on implementing the suggestions arising from these discussions through continuous guidance, the exchange of international expertise, and practical programs focused on market access.
