On July 21, 2023, an inception workshop for the project "Promoting Innovation and Inclusion in Growth Potential Enterprises: Evidence from Nepal" was held at the Square Hotel, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. The workshop aimed to lay the foundation for an innovative and inclusive approach to foster growth in Nepal's Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Attended by distinguished participants, the event saw the convergence of industry experts, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders, all eager to contribute their expertise to the project. The Chief Guest of the program was Executive Vice President of Youth and Small entrepreneurs Self Employment Fund(YSEF), Dr. Dev Raj Rokka and the event was chaired by the President of NDRI, Dr. Nawa Raj Khatiwada. Among the notable attendees, were representatives from Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, FNCCI, FNCSI, FWEAN, National Cooperative Federation a whose invaluable insights are expected to shape the project's success.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Prof. Dr. Raj Kumar Bhattarai, presented on the project background and mentioned that its primary objective is to implement innovation programs for growth potential enterprises in Nepal that rely on indigenous knowledge, skills and resources. He also mentioned that through a meticulous selection process, the project will identify growth potential entrepreneurs to participate in a continuous three-year experimental study, focused on fostering innovation.
After the presentation, the attendees engaged in dynamic feedback sessions, and idea-sharing. They collectively addressed the challenges faced by Nepalese entrepreneurs and explored strategies to leverage innovation for fostering growth and inclusivity. The participants' varied backgrounds and expertise created a conducive environment for productive dialogue, laying a solid groundwork for the project's future activities.
Mr. Rajendra Khatri, Project Manager of the project, mentioned that the overwhelming support and valuable inputs from the participants reinforced commitment to driving positive change in Nepal's business ecosystem and the insights gained shall be used to shape the project's research framework and implementation strategies. Dr. Shankar Shrestha (Executive Director, NDRI) delivered the Vote of Thanks and Dr. Nawa Raj Khatiwada concluded the program, expressing his eagerness on project's outcomes.
