KATHMANDU: South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF) organised an interaction programme on 'Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park' in Kathmandu, on Friday.
The programme aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the importance of the role of the government, parliamentarians, and lawmakers in creating strategic policies that enable an environment conducive to promoting innovative projects such as ‘Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park’ the first in Nepal and second in South Asia to support gender mainstreaming in the socio-economic sphere.
During the programme chief guest, Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, expressed his commitment that the government will support the project and hoped for extension of similar projects in other parts of Nepal.
He shared that the construction work of the park has already made headway and works relating to it will be taken forward with high priority. Minister Mahat said, "At a glance, it may look like a simple project but it is a project with far-reaching concepts. The network of such parks should be expanded throughout the country."
It may be noted that a Cabinet meeting held on June 7 this year decided to convert the industrial village in Panchkhal Municipality of Kavrepalanchok district into a special industrial park for women entrepreneurs with the objective of institutionally developing entrepreneurship.
The finance minister further added that women's entrepreneurship and the green economy have to be given priority to address unemployment issues and the migration of youths. He expressed his confidence that this park would contribute to job creation and increase domestic production. Mentioning that the role of women in building rural and modern economies is growing, Minister Mahat asserted that the state has adopted the policy accordingly to promote it.
According to Minister Mahat, women have notable participation in small-scale industries nationwide. "Domestic products are being exported. Women's participation in the information technology (IT) sector is also increasing. Women should optimise the use of IT to market their products," he opined.
On the occasion, House of Representatives (HoR) members Narayani Sharma of CPN (Maoist Centre) and Sumana Shrestha of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Bagmati Province Assembly Deputy speaker Apsara Chapagai Khatri mentioned that as lawmakers they would be happy to advocate on issues on the socio–economic issues of women.
Member of Parliament of Bagmati Province and Senior Vice President of SAWDF, Yankila Sherpa spoke about how eco-tourism could be promoted through the green industrial park.
SAWDF President Pramila Acharya Rijal urged all the women parliamentarians to unite and work for women's issues. She urged all the lawmakers to advocate for formulation of a law in the form of the Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park Act which could help establish similar parks in all the other six provinces. Highlighting the vital role of women entrepreneurs in the national economy, she stressed the significance of executing projects that create a supportive environment for micro, small, and medium-sized women entrepreneurs. She additionally emphasized the need to foster unity, solidarity, and cooperation among female leaders to contribute to a more empowered society.
Sharada Rijal, Chairperson of Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park (WEGrIP) Committee, delivered a presentation on the ongoing Women Entrepreneurs Green Industrial Park (WEGrIP) project - a PPP model in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies and the local government - Panchkhal Municipality at Hokse, Panchkhal Municipality, Bagmati Provine.
Panchkhal Municipality Mayor Mahesh Kharel briefed how this park would change the economic structure of the municipality and promote the local resources which have not been utilised.
Ministers, former ministers, and HoR and National Assembly members, women business leaders who play important roles in Nepal's policymaking attended the interaction programme.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Panchkhal Municipality in collaboration with the SAWDF are going to establish the park.
Initially, a total of 50 small-scale industries related to agricultural production and tourism-centric services will be established in the industrial village to be set up in public-private partnership model.
