A significant panel discussion on “Entrepreneurship and Economic Development of Karnali Province” was successfully organized to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024. The event was hosted by Hriti Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests, and Environment, Karnali Province; Nepal Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Karnali Province; Surkhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Association, Surkhet; and the American Corner, Surkhet.
The program, held on November 22, 2024, at Birendranagar, convened 35+ policymakers, entrepreneurs, private-sector representatives, students of entrepreneurship, and members of civil society to discuss the current state, challenges, and opportunities of entrepreneurship in Karnali Province.
Speakers and Facilitator
The panel included the following distinguished speakers:
Honorable Suresh Adhikari – Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forests, and Environment, Karnali Province.
Padam Bahadur Shahi – President, Nepal Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Karnali Province.
Laxman Kandel – President, Surkhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mansara Nepali – Vice President, Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Association, Surkhet.
The session was facilitated by Ganesh Karki, Executive Director of the Surkhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Objectives
The event aimed to:
Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week in a meaningful way.
Understand the current status of entrepreneurship in Karnali Province.
Highlight efforts and opportunities for entrepreneurship in the province.
Provide policy recommendations to province government for effective programs and initiatives to support entrepreneurship.
Advocate for amendments in existing laws, policies, and regulations to address barriers to entrepreneurship.
Event Overview
The two-hour program began with an introduction by Kamal Lamsal, Communications and Outreach Advisor at Hriti Foundation, who emphasized the importance of the discussion in the regional context.
Honourable Minister Suresh Adhikari acknowledged the policy barriers hindering entrepreneurship and committed to revising and improving the regulatory framework within a year. He highlighted the disproportionate number of forest officials in his ministry compared to industry-related personnel and called for collective efforts for sustainable entrepreneurship development.
Key Commitments included:
Revising policies and procedures related to industry licensing and renewal.
Establishing a provincial training center to promote entrepreneurial skills.
Encouraging youth to engage in local agricultural entrepreneurship instead of seeking opportunities abroad.
Panel Insights:
Padam Bahadur Shahi and Laxman Kandel stressed the importance of a collaborative approach between the private sector and the provincial government to establish training centers and support skill development.
Mansara Nepali called for greater protection and promotion of women entrepreneurs, likening them to budding flowers requiring care and encouragement.
Discussion Summary
Participants identified outdated laws, policies, and procedures as the biggest barriers to entrepreneurial growth in the province. Honorable Minister Adhikari pledged to amend and create supportive policies within the next year.
The event concluded with a strong commitment from both the government and the private sector to work in unison for entrepreneurship development in Karnali. Women entrepreneurs’ representation was also acknowledged as crucial, with calls for targeted support to empower women in business.
