Women entrepreneurs access to financial sector low: CNI

KATHMANDU,JUNE 15: 

Women entrepreneurs, during an interaction programme, recommended banks and financial institutions to take important initiatives to encourage women entrepreneurship. 

“The government along with banks and financial institutions should enhance women’s access to financing,” said Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Women Entrepreneur and Professional Forum representative 

Barsha Shrestha.

“The level of initiative and inquires made by women regarding financing is very low,” she said. Though the number of businesses registered in the names of women is relatively higher, it is their male counterparts who approach the financial institutions as women are not very aware about financing. 

“Banks and financial institutions do not discriminate against their clients on the basis of gender. The only necessity is that legal, regulatory and policy requirements for financing are fulfilled by the client,” she said. 

The interaction programme was 

organised by CNI to encourage positive competition and competent management, secure domestic and foreign investment, and create employment opportunities in Nepal’s industrial and corporate sector. 

During the programme, vice president of CNI Narendra Basnyat urged women entrepreneurs to come up with business ideas so that banks and financial institutions can extend their support to help them develop their business. “Women entrepreneurs should be confident and competent to start a business,” he said.

Meanwhile, participants also focused on the need for capacity development and business management skills. According to them, there are many women who want to start a business but there is no proper institution to support their endeavour.

Source: THT