By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Oct. 16: The Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) has launched a campaign to promote products made by women entrepreneurs across the country under a single trademark, aiming to strengthen their market presence and expand business opportunities.
The FWEAN has obtained a collective mark - ‘Ma Udhyami’ trademark from the government. It plans to promote the mark through a collective exhibition showcasing products made by women entrepreneurs, its President Darshana Shrestha informed at a press conference organised in Lalitpur on Thursday.
According to FWEAN, the exhibition is expected to feature products from more than 100 women entrepreneurs from several districts of Nepal. They will display goods ranging from handicrafts, Dhaka textiles, carpets and handmade paper products to organic food, agricultural produce, jewellery, sculptures and decorative items.
According to Shrestha, the initiative prioritises products made from locally available raw materials, particularly those linked to agriculture, handicrafts and value chains. "The FWEAN believes that a shared trademark will help consumers identify products made by women entrepreneurs and build confidence in their quality," she said.
The exhibition is also expected to provide a platform for women-led cottage, small and medium-sized enterprises, business owners and exporters to showcase indigenous products, expand their markets, establish business networks and explore commercial partnerships.
General Secretary of the FWEAN Sabita Subedi said the campaign aims to increase the visibility of women-owned and women-led enterprises, improve product quality and support branding, packaging and marketing in local, national and international markets.
The FWEAN also intends to establish a common branding platform that allows entrepreneurs to retain the identity of their individual products while benefiting from collective recognition. The trademark will be available only to eligible women entrepreneurs authorised to use it.
According to Shrestha, FWEAN has called for government support to promote the trademark, including measures to facilitate the marketing of products bearing the mark at local, provincial and federal levels. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has pledged to provide necessary support to the campaign.
Likewise, the Federation also plans to advocate for priority for trademarked products in government procurement, budget allocations for industrial villages and exhibition and sales centres, and training programmes to improve product quality. It has further called for support for domestic and international study tours and learning visits for participating entrepreneurs.
The FWEAN said the initiative was intended to contribute to women's economic empowerment by strengthening their professional identity and creating opportunities for business growth. It expressed confidence that the exhibition would go beyond commercial transactions to promote women’s entrepreneurship, facilitate the exchange of experience and connect women entrepreneurs with new markets.
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