KATHMANDU: A panel discussion was held under the NewBiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2024 on Friday. The speakers in the panel discussion on the theme of 'Strengthening Women's Business Leadership' were Mahesh Bhattarai, Joint Secretary and Chief of the 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, facilitated in the discussion.

The event organized by New Business Age was inaugurated by Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Mahaprasad Adhikari. The awards ceremony sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited will hand out 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 Women Entrepreneur' category.

Similarly, in the 'Emerging Enterprising Woman of the Year' category, one person from each of the seven provinces will be awarded. They will also be given a prize of Rs 51,000 each.

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. Similarly, IME Life is a life insurance partner.

This is the fourth edition of the awards ceremony organized by New Business Age under the New Business Women Summit and Awards series that started in 2021. The company has been conducting various other awards programs to encourage entrepreneurship.