Government plans collateral-free loans, concessions for women entrepreneurs

LALITPUR: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dipak Kumar Shah has said the government will provide special concessions, collateral-free loans and technology transfer support to encourage women entrepreneurs.

Speaking at a workshop on 'Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal: Review of Policy Implementation and Parliamentary Action Plan', organised by the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs' Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) in Lalitpur on Wednesday, Shah said the government was also considering startup loans at a 3% interest rate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operated by women entrepreneurs.

He said women entrepreneurship plays an important role in creating jobs, changing social attitudes and strengthening the national economy. Cooperation among the government, private sector, financial institutions and development partners is also essential for economic development, he added.

Minister Shah said the state should protect new industries during their early stages through various support measures. The government is working to simplify administrative procedures for establishing and operating industries and to ensure policy stability, according to the minister. Such support is important for job creation, tax revenue and economic prosperity, he added.

The minister urged industrialists, businesspeople, experts and organisations to provide practical recommendations to make policy formulation and implementation more effective. He also called on lawmakers to raise the legal and financial challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Parliament, saying their active involvement would strengthen parliamentary oversight.

FWEAN President Darshana Shrestha said women entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to employment generation and economic growth but continue to face challenges related to access to finance, market expansion, business registration and operations.

She said policy and institutional barriers remain major concerns and stressed the need for effective implementation of existing policies, highlighting the importance of reforms and greater collaboration among stakeholders.

The workshop focused on policy reforms, expanding access to finance, strengthening institutional coordination and creating a conducive environment for promoting women's entrepreneurship.