Industry Minister calls for implementation of women-friendly policies

KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha has urged that women‑friendly policies be implemented rather than remain on paper. 

Addressing an interaction titled 'Women’s Opportunities in Startups: Challenges and the Way Forward', organised by Policy Research, Minister Sinha stressed the need to ensure women’s genuine access to and opportunities in enterprises, business and startups. “Women‑friendly policies and approaches are meaningless unless they are put into practice,” he said, adding that promoting women’s entrepreneurship would contribute significantly to strengthening the overall economy.

Saying that debates on whether women can deliver in public roles are now outdated, Minister Sinha underlined the need for collective efforts from the State to society to promote women entrepreneurs and said it is the responsibility of the State to enable women further.

Other participants echoed the need for coordinated efforts to address challenges faced by aspiring women entrepreneurs, such as access to finance, skills development opportunities and market access.

The director of Policy Research, Basudev Neupane, said policy, technological and institutional support are essential for the sustainability of women‑led startup businesses, adding that substantive plans and actions are required to achieve this goal.

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