Kathmandu, Jan. 10 : Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated a regional conference on “The role of women entrepreneurs in the new millennium” here today.

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Koirala said, “As women are best managers of the family… they will be the best managers of the nation and its business as well.”

“So they must be given greater entrepreneurial roles. For this, we must have both political will and a sense of sharing of economic management. Our ultimate goal is to change the role of women from the management of household to the management of national economy,” the Prime Minister added.

Describing himself as a strong advocate of formal education, he pointed out that the government of Nepal initiated a special scholarship programme for about 40 thousand girls in 1991 when he first became Prime Minister.

“We have continued and expanded this scholarship scheme. And, with this and many other special programmes we are determined to transform the picture of Nepalese society in a short period of time,” he added.

“I feel that the SAARC region, despite its shortcomings, is not so prejudiced against the women’s role in society. It is a remarkable fact that this region has produced more women heads of government and states than any other region of the same magnitude in the recent past,” the Prime Minister noted, adding that, “that is a case in politics. And it should be the case in industry, business and management as well.”

“The SAARC region has now opened more avenues of progress thanks to the information revolution brought about by electronic technology. But we cannot develop this region if we keep women entrepreneurs out from the benefits of revolution,” he said.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala inspected the handicrafts items, produced by women entrepreneurs, on display there.

At the function, chairperson of the Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust Sujata Koirala, from the chair, said that the uplift of women entrepreneurs would go a long way in the economic development of the nation.

She also hoped that the regional conference would help resolve the problems of women entrepreneurs.

About one hundred delegates from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are participating in the two-day conference organised jointly by the Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust and UNIFEM.

Chairman of the conference organising committee Ramesh Kumar Shrestha said the conference aimed to discuss the shortcomings seen in the task of enhancing women entreprenuers’ competitency with regard to WTO and SAPTA and find collective solutions them.

At the function, UNIFEM regional director Mrs Chandani Joshi president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kaji Shrestha and programme co-ordinator Dr Sangita Rayamajhi stressed the need of increased women involvement industry and trade for women empowerment.