KATHMANDU: The fourth edition of the 'New Biz Business Women Summit and Awards-2024' has commenced at Hotel Soaltee, Kathmandu on Friday.

Organized annually by New Biz Business Edge Pvt Ltd, this event aims to encourage and appreciate women entrepreneurs for their contributions to the field.

Chief Guest Maha Prasad Adhikari, Governor of NRB, and Madan Lamsal, Chairman of NBA jointly inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp.

Sabita Subedi, Director of Operations and Finance at New Business Age Pvt Ltd, welcomed the guests on behalf of NBA. In her welcome speech, she emphasized the importance of encouraging and respecting women entrepreneurs.

Subedi also highlighted that financial literacy and entrepreneurship training had been provided to women entrepreneurs in all seven provinces of the country as part of the program. She noted that this is the fourth edition of the 'Business Women Summit and Awards,' a special initiative by New Business Age Pvt Ltd to honor women entrepreneurs. The main slogan of the series is 'Empowering Business Leadership of Women,' and this year's summit theme is ‘Strengthening Women’s Business Leadership.'

She added that this event represents a small effort by the company to promote women's entrepreneurship. New Business Age has been organising this program since 2021 to encourage women who have made significant contributions in various enterprise sectors and those who have dedicated a long time to women's entrepreneurship and empowerment in all seven provinces. The event will award the best women entrepreneurs in various categories, selected by an independent panel of judges.

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited is the title sponsor of the event. The NBA, the organizer, has announced awards in 12 categories, including 'Lifetime Achievement Award in Women Entrepreneurship.' Other categories include 'Professional Woman of Excellence,' 'Pioneer Social Entrepreneur of the Year,' 'Woman in Tech,' and 'The Best Woman Entrepreneur.'

Additionally, NBA will honor one female entrepreneur from each of all seven provinces under the 'Emerging Enterprising Woman of the Year' category, along with a cash prize of Rs 51,000 each. A panel discussion on Empowering Women's Business Leadership' will also be held as part of the program.

Speakers for the panel discussion include Mahesh Bhattarai, Chief and Joint Secretary of the Economic Management Division of the National Planning Commission, Swastika Shrestha, Chief Executive Officer of Teach for Nepal, and Padmakshi Rana, Executive Director of Impact Hub Kathmandu. Samanata Thapa, co-founder and program head of Startup Discovery Asia, will facilitate the discussion.

In the run-up to the event, NBA had provided special training on financial literacy and entrepreneurship to nearly 300 women entrepreneurs in Butwal and Nepalgunj.

Sponsors of the event include Salt Trading Corporation, Dove, Citizen Life Insurance, Himalaya Airlines, Kajaria, NLG Insurance Company, Omoda EV, Reliable Life Insurance, Mahalakshmi Bikas Bank, Muktinath Bikas Bank, and Krishi Bikas Bank. IME Life is the life insurance partner.

Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari was the chief guest for the first half of the awards ceremony while Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla was the chief guest for the second half.