September 15:  The Pokhara Metropolitan City and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) entered into an agreement to implement a project focused on creating employment opportunities through Recycle Upcycle (RU) enterprises.

The signing ceremony took place in Pokhara, with Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya representing Pokhara Metropolitan City and Deputy Chief Young-Hyun Lee representing KOICA.

Prior to this formal signing, both parties had previously agreed on the project's initial draft.

The primary objective of this project is to promote the creation of "green" jobs in Pokhara Metropolitan City by emphasizing recycling and upcycling activities.

The agreement aims to establish RU enterprises and generate environmentally sustainable employment opportunities within the city.

The project also includes capacity-building initiatives for Metropolitan City officials, government stakeholders, and RU enterprises, fostering skill development and green employment prospects.

Additionally, the project plans to establish a Green Venture Zone (GVZ) and provide business support to the newly established RU enterprises.

These project activities are expected to induce a change in community behavior, encouraging residents to practice waste segregation at the household level. This, in turn, will reduce the strain on Pokhara's waste disposal sites.

As part of its commitment to the project, Pokhara Metropolitan City has allocated a 5,090 square meter area at Basundhara Park in Pokhara for the establishment of the Green Venture Zone (GVZ).

Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya emphasized the significance of waste management and highlighted the GVZ's role in transforming waste into valuable assets.

Acharya also noted that the project would connect young people to employment opportunities and turn waste into a source of income for the community. (RSS)