KATHMANDU: Chandra Prasad Dhakal, founder of IME Group, perhaps, had never thought that he would be a leading personality in Nepal’s business community.
But his perseverance, hard work and determination took Dhakal to the helm – who now leads several business companies. It was the ‘risk’ blended with his determination that paved the way toward his success.
Had he not quit his job as an assistant accountant at the Rastriya Banijya Bank, perhaps, he would still be working in the same bank, however, in a higher post.
Born in a middle-class family in Baglung district, Dhakal is currently the chairman of the country’s largest bank, the Global IME Bank.
Reminisces Dhakal with a sense of self-importance, “That was the right decision.” According to him, taking a risk at a certain point in time will undoubtedly make a mark in one’s life.
Dhakal did venture out to open a cold store back in 1991 later switching on to a cargo business. However, since he needed around 1.3 million rupees, he decided to take a risk by resigning from the bank and ask the bank for a loan.
Since then, there is no looking back for Dhakal, now a business mogul, and a Vice President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the umbrella organization of the country’s private sector.
Dhakal, who is also the Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Nepal since 2010, is currently into businesses such as enterprises, remittance, banks, insurance, hydropower, service sector, tourism, cable car, hospitality and infrastructure running a business empire.
It was back in 2001 when this determined businessman ventured into the remittance business by establishing the International Money Express (IME), a private-sector money transfer company, in Nepal and Malaysia.
Since Dhakal knew when to strike the iron, his business continued to flourish. This, as he claims, was his other right decision at the right time because he realized that Nepali migrant workers were finding it difficult to transfer their money back to Nepal from Malaysia and other countries.
This group then entered the financial sector with IME Finance. In 2012, the IME Group went into a merger bringing the Global Bank, IME Finance and Lord Buddha Finance to make it the Global IME Bank. Later, it then merged with Commerz and Trust Bank Nepal and acquired Pacific Development Bank and Reliable Development Bank.
The IME Group, currently, is Nepal’s popular and fastest-growing business company with its presence in the insurance, and tourism and hospitality sector as well. It owns the Chandragiri Hill project, a popular tourism spot in the Kathmandu Valley.
The motive behind the project was to promote the historic site and the history of Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of Nepal.
Dhakal last week announced his candidacy for the post of a senior vice-president in the upcoming election FNCCI scheduled for August 10-11 this year.
With the slogan of ‘Public-private partnership: Base for Prosperity’ for his election campaign, Dhakal eyes for the top-most post if the FNCCI in the next three years.
The secret behind Dhakal’s success is his resolve, determination and honesty, who despite losing his father at the age of 16, never got discouraged to shoulder the responsibilities of his family, and later his business.
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