Kathmandu, December 15
Efforts have been initiated to promote entrepreneurship among Nepalis returning from South Korea. The K–HAMI project, under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is working to support returnees from Korea in becoming entrepreneurs.
In addition to providing the necessary support to become self-employed and establish enterprises, the project will also offer access to required loan facilities. The initiative aims to provide technical and financial assistance to returnees who wish to apply the skills they acquired in Korea to start entrepreneurial ventures in Nepal.
To this end, business competitions have been organised among returnees. Outstanding participants in these competitions will receive cash prizes and loan support.
On Thursday, a business competition was held among 10 returnees from Korea at the Central Training Centre of the Agricultural Development Bank in Bode, Bhaktapur. According to the project, returnee entrepreneurs under the K–HAMI project implement their business ideas in practice after completing a one-year entrepreneurship education programme jointly conducted in Korea and Nepal.
Ten participants had reached the final stage after completing entrepreneurship education under the Returnee Innovator for Nepal (RIN) programme. RIN is a component of the K–HAMI project, which is implemented by The Bridge International with support from KOICA.
The event was attended by South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-Young, KOICA Country Director Muhen Kong, Joint Secretary Janak Sharma from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, among others. Competitive and inclusive business pitching sessions and product or prototype exhibitions were held among the trained returnees.
In the Growth Track category, Tara Thapa secured first place and received a cash prize of Rs 500,000. Ravi Lal Pant finished second, while Khem Bahadur Karki came third, receiving cash prizes of Rs 300,000 and Rs 200,000 respectively.
Similarly, under the Start Track category, Jankalal Tamang secured first place and received a cash prize of Rs 300,000. Ishwar Banmala finished second and Phulmaya Tamang third, receiving Rs 200,000 and Rs 100,000 respectively.
A total of six returnee entrepreneurs received cash prizes through their business pitches. Additionally, 20 participants who completed entrepreneurship capacity-building training in the Growth Track and Startup categories in Nepal were honoured with certificates.
The programme has been providing significant support to returnees from Korea. According to Jinseol Hwang, CEO of The Bridge International, the primary objective of the initiative is to empower returnees to transform from migrant workers into successful entrepreneurs and contribute to Nepal’s economic development.
KOICA is a government agency of South Korea that provides grant aid and technical assistance for international development. Since 2022, KOICA has been undertaking various initiatives to turn the entrepreneurial dreams of returnees from Korea into reality.
