“Uncovering Opportunities: Monday’s with Young Entrepreneurs” Final Episode

Kathmandu, Dec 24, 2014: The final episode of this season’s “Uncovering Opportunities: Monday’s with Young Entrepreneurs” was held at FNCCI on Monday 22nd December. The event’s aim was to inspire youths to become entrepreneurs  and help budding entrepreneurs identify easier pathways to success.

The entrepreneurial journey of two successful youth entrepreneurs Madhushudhan Aryal of Jasmine Paints and Chandra Pandey, a tomato seed grower was showcased through video followed by a panel discussion about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial environment with Hon. MP Gagan Thapa (Chairperson, Agriculture Resource Committee of the Constitutional Assembly), Ujwal Thapa, co-founder of Entrepreneurs for Nepal, and Susan Parker-Burns, chief of the US Embassy Public Affairs Section.

ENTREPRENUER STORIES:

Jasmine Paints – Madhusudhan Aryal

Looking at big companies, we only see their success. But success is only skin deep, we never know the true story until we learn about their falls. Even though MrMadhusudhanAryal may seem very successful now, it was very difficult for him when he started. They failed in their previous venture. Started again with investment of Rs 1000. He travelled to mid-western and far-western regions carrying buckets of his paint on buses during the heights of the civil war. Now their paint is among the top 5 paints in Nepal. They’ve been successful not only in their business but also in employing people from the local community.Aryal strictly believes that there is no lack of opportunities in Nepal if we try and prioritize local over foreign.

Srijana Tomato Seeds – Lalita and Chandra Prasad Pandey

684.5 sq. ft. of land.6 months of work.Rs 50,000 in investment.Rs 3,40,000 in revenue in the first year. It’s an unbelievable story of success. This is the story of Chandra Prasad Pandey and LalitaPandey who started their Srijana Tomato Seed cultivation business immediately after marriage with the technical assistance from CEAPRED.

The entrepreneurs’ videos can be found here. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgLYbPWrfshTbhm0dJK6vw

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Hon MP Gagan Thapa mentioned of his efforts to disseminate information about subsidies to all farmers. He mentioned directing all District Agriculture Office to organize a public meet where information about all subsidies is relayed. He also mentioned about directing the ministry about opening a portal where all subsidies given and its effect is tracked. Next, he mentioned about starting a start-up fund for entrepreneurs where investment is provided to good ideas.

Ujwal Thapa mentioned that Nepali IT entrepreneurs are regarded highly in the international market. He mentioned the need for improving the payment gateways to help stimulate the IT entreprenuership environment.

Susan Parker-Burns mentioned how US Embassy is trying to promote entrepreneurship in Nepal by organizing Re-Connect Bootcamp with CRDF, funding ICT for Agriculture (the app that went on to with the NCell App Camp). She also mentioned that US Embassy is setting up an business incubation center at the FNCCI which would be ready by March 2015.

Chandra Pandey mentioned that the most difficult part of for an entrepreneur is having the trust of yourself, then of your family and then others. He said the need to find ways of respecting farming profession more and how this event boosted his respect in his community.

Madhusudhan Aryal said if you are committed to your work money comes. He also mentioned how the civil war proved to be an opportunity for him: when major paint manufactures didn’t want to go to villages, he was able to go there and expand his business.

The event was organized by Institution for Suitable Actions for Prosperity (ISAP). Institution for Suitable Action for Prosperity (ISAP) is a not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established in May 2013. It is working toward bettering the economic condition of resource-poor people. Some of the methods we are adopting are: making people see entrepreneurship as a means to economic betterment, improving skills and technologies to enhance productivity of small and micro-enterprises, increasing efficiencies of supply chain, and researching on market realities.