KATHMANDU: The fourth edition of the Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards has commenced in Kathmandu on Friday. Sabita Subedi, Director of Operations and Finance at New Business Age Pvt. Ltd., delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the organizers. She emphasized the importance of encouraging and respecting the work of women entrepreneurs.

Subedi highlighted that financial literacy and entrepreneurship training were provided to women entrepreneurs in all seven provinces of the country as part of the event. This initiative, started by New Business Age Pvt. Ltd., aims to honor women entrepreneurs and is now in its fourth year.

The main slogan of the series is "Empowering Business Leadership of Nepali Women," and the theme of this year's summit is "Strengthening Women's Business Leadership."

A special panel discussion on this topic is scheduled during the program. Subedi described the summit as a small effort by the company to promote women's entrepreneurship.

Sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited, the event will present awards in 12 categories, including 'Lifetime Achievement Award in Women Entrepreneurship,' 'Professional Woman of Excellence,' 'Pioneer Social Entrepreneur of the Year,' 'Women in Tech,' and 'The Best Woman Entrepreneur.' Additionally, one person from each of the seven provinces will be awarded in the 'Emerging Enterprising Woman of the Year' category, with each recipient receiving a prize of Rs 51,000.

The program will feature a panel discussion on 'Strengthening Women's Business Leadership,' with speakers Mahesh Bhattarai, Joint Secretary and Chief of Economic Management Division of the National Planning Commission; Swastika Shrestha, CEO 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.

Other 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.