KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has issued a directive urging the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supply to accord top priority to startup businesses catering to the youth demographic.

In a discussion held at Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Dahal underscored the necessity of promoting industry and commerce to the diplomatic bodies within the Government of Nepal.

He instructed officials to devise comprehensive plans, mechanisms, and programs to propel the growth of youth-oriented startups.

During the meeting, Industry, Commerce, and Supply Minister Ramesh Rijal highlighted that the insufficient funds allocated for industry and commerce promotion hindered the scheduled program’s implementation.

He advocated for a holistic solution from the government to overcome this challenge.

Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, urged the formulation of an action plan and the implementation of initiatives outlined in the Prime Minister’s national address.

He emphasized that future evaluations would be based on ministerial performance figures, instructing secretaries to prioritize work in declared industrial zones.

Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supply, presented the ministry’s status, progress, challenges, and upcoming programs.

Secretary Duwadi stressed the necessity of consistency between policies, plans, programs, and budgets.

He highlighted issues such as ineffective inter-agency coordination, policy and program integration, and the focus on entrepreneurship, small household and small industries, industrial and business infrastructure development, employee capacity building, and innovation-oriented programs.

Secretary Duwadi urged active lobbying for the promotion of Nepal’s industry and commerce in bilateral and multilateral forums.