The Nepal Weekly 
March 8, 2022
A host of speakers who spoke at a programme jointly organized by Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Nepal Women’s Chamber in Kathmandu on Monday underlined the need to bring special package for women entrepreneurs, who were hit hard by the two year long Covid – 19 pandemic.
The women’s contribution in the GDP can be increased by enhancing women’s entrepreneurship, observed Rajendra Malla, chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce. The Women Chamber can play an important role by to uplift the women’s living standard and empower them by launching a campaign for women’s entrepreneurship not only in the urban areas but also in the rural areas, he pointed out.
Speaking at an interaction on the theme “Analysis of impact of Covid – 19 pandemic and beyond for women SMEs,” chairperson of Women’s Chamber of Commerce Urmila Shrestha underlined the need to carry out analysis of impact of Covid on women run SMES (Small and medium enterprises) with a view to bringing a package for providing relief to them. “These days violence against women has been increasing in our country,” pointed out Shrestha and urged the government to the effective measures to check such activities. She also asked the government to provide loan relief to women involved in SMEs during the pandemic period. The women chamber has been helping the women entrepreneurs by providing market for their products, she added.
Minister for Women and Children Uma Regmi assured that the government is considering to provide tax concession and other relief programme targeting women entrepreneurs who were affected by the pandemic while announcing the budget for new fiscal year. It is not sufficient to introduce rules and regulations to help women entrepreneurs, but their effective implementation is equally important, she pointed out.
Economist Poshan Raj Pandey said, “women entrepreneurs are the hardest hit during the pandemic as they are mainly involved in health and social works, education, hotels and retail and wholesale trade, which are were severely affected during the Covid- 19.” He also underlined the need for addressing the problems facing the women entrepreneurs, who are mainly involved in informal business.
