August 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has assured that the government is ready to lend support required for the promotion and marketing of products manufactured with the use of domestic raw materials and homegrown technologies and skills.    
The prime minister made such remarks while inaugurating the "Sixth International Women's Trade Expo" organised by the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs' Associations of Nepal in Lalitpur on Thursday.

On the occasion, the prime minister insisted on the need to promote goods and services based on homegrown skills and technologies, as well as on promoting the market for such products.    
Prime Minister Deuba was of the view that the trade fair featuring the skills of women entrepreneurs would help promote export business of the country, contributing to the protection and sustainability of small and medium-scale industries run by Nepali women. In addition to this, it would be helpful for promoting women entrepreneurship, excelling their skills in the related field, diversifying their services and products, and expanding market for their efforts.    
He urged the women’s community to explore opportunities in the area of entrepreneurship with the maximum utilization of locally-available resources to become economically self-reliant and empowered.    
"The expo will be an inspiration for women to pursue a career as entrepreneur, contributing to the enchantment of women employment, self-employment and to the nation's economy. I hope the expo for publicity, sale promotion and marketing of goods and services produced by women entrepreneurs will help expand the network and connection of the entire Nepali women entrepreneurs and provide them a platform for the exchange of business ideas and skills," the head of the government said.    
The interactions among entrepreneurs and exchange of information during the expo will be helpful in consolidating business collaboration, coordination and the relations, and this also help in the promotion of Nepali products, said Deuba. He further said that the expo will be an inspiration for foreign investors to explore opportunities in Nepal.    
He said he is happy knowing that the products produced by women entrepreneurs of different districts of all seven provinces including Kathmandu Valley based on traditional skill from local means and resources would be kept on display in the expo.    
"I am very happy knowing that women entrepreneurs from remote districts including Jumla, Humla, Dadeldhura and Taplejung have been participating in the expo and that they have brought their production to keep in display," shared PM Deuba.    
Stating the contribution of private sector is very significant to make the economy dynamic, he mentioned that the private sector has been playing a leading role in creating employment and helping to increase gross domestic product of the country.    
PM Deuba pointed out the need for the government and private sector to move ahead through coordination and collaboration.    
FWEAN President Neeru Rayamajhi (Khatri) urged the government to pay attention towards women entrepreneurs’ capacity building, financial management and market promotion as well as to construct local infrastructure for market management of local production.    
A total of 109 stalls of agriculture, handicraft, service, food stuffs as well as production of international entrepreneurs have been kept on display in the expo. Expo coordinator Shova Gyawali said that 55,000 visitors are expected to observe the expo and transaction worth Rs 20 million has been estimated. -- RSS