January 29: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel today acknowledged that the process of empowering women has not moved ahead at a desired pace in the country despite adequate provisions in the constitution.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 'Newbiz Business Women Summit & Awards 2021', Finance Minister Paudel said that women empowerment was necessary to foster entrepreneurship among women.
"The constitution is progressive in terms of gender equality. However, we have to focus on to make women feel that there is no gender discrimination, they are equal to men and their potential and capacity are realized," said Finance Minister Paudel.
Finance Minister Paudel also expressed the government's commitment to promote and facilitate women entrepreneurs that ultimately help in achieving economic prosperity of the country.
New Business Age Pvt Ltd, the publisher of Arthik Abhiyan Daily and New Business Age, in collaboration with Standard Chartered organized the summit and award ceremony.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Madan Lamsal, Chairman of New Business Age Pvt Ltd, said that the initiative was aimed at honoring women entrepreneurs who have continued to pursue their businesses by overcoming all odds and adverse business conditions in the country.
Zarin Daruwala, Cluster CEO India and Chairperson of Standard Charted Bank Nepal Ltd, said that easier access to finance, better tech connectivity and easier market access would help in scaling up women entrepreneurship.
According to Daruwala, Standard Chartered Bank Nepal has observed nearly 16 folds increase in women entrepreneurship loans in 2020 compared to 2019 in line with the Nepal Rastra Bank's directed sector lending program.
Also speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Bhawani Rana, Immediate Past President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that women have made a remarkable progress in economic and business sectors in last two decades. "There are still many challenges that women entrepreneurs are facing in our patriarchal society. The government must take a lead role in helping women entrepreneurs to overcome these challenges," she added.
