Ritu Singh Vaidya, who is making a strong mark of female leadership in the automobile sector, is one of the rare individuals who combines business, beauty, art, and social leadership. A former Miss India, fashion designer, singer, and entrepreneur, Vaidya is known as a multi-dimensional personality. Vaidya is also the President of Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) and the Managing Director of United Traders Syndicate (UTS), the authorized distributor of Toyota for Nepal. Her role is significant in expanding the family business including automobiles, heavy equipment, cement, agriculture, and financial services. Yagya Banjade and Seema Tamang spoke to Vaidya for Kantipur about the current state of industry and business in Nepal, women's leadership, investment environment and her personal life: At the age of 19, you became Miss India Universe 1991, fifth runner-up Miss World, second runner-up Miss Asia World, and are now active in business in Nepal. What is your experience?  The most important thing is to have a positive attitude. Whatever work you do, do it well. You have to be fully committed to achieving success in that work. The same is true in my case. When I look back on my past, I feel happy. Because I did what I wanted and what I could. At the age of 19, I went and filled the form for Miss India. I participated in various competitions and was successful. Since I went to fill the form for the competition, I was never afraid that I would not be selected in the round. My positive attitude has worked there. The main motto of my life is to show your full potential at the right time (rise to the occasion). That ‘rise to the occasion’ has always been ongoing, whether I was Miss India or in my current situation. I had always had an interest in entrepreneurship (business). I had started ‘Silk’s Firm’ when I was Miss India. On the advice of a friend, I went to the ‘Silk Board’ and got information and started the business. But it was not successful. Even when I was modeling, modeling coordination and shows were going on simultaneously. I had some entrepreneurial skills. Later, that skill was used in the family business in Nepal.

After marriage, you came to live in Nepal, did not immediately join the family business after coming, but instead started a separate business, who encouraged you later and joined the family business?

For a year after marriage, I was busy with modeling and television. I was taking work in India. I used to come to Nepal, stay for two-three days and return for three-four weeks. This was going on. Due to which I was not able to connect well with Nepal and my family. It was also not right for my married life. That is why I started living in Kathmandu for a long time after 1997. I felt that I had to do something in Nepal. Being a fashion designer, I started working in clothes in Kathmandu. I did designing, embroidery, etc. At that time, there were no craftsmen in Nepal, so I brought 10-12 people from India. At that time, there were no boutiques in Nepal, there was no work in clothes. There were no craftsmen who did embroidery, handwork. When I started the business, I got a good response. There was a lot of demand. Today, I see that there are boutiques in the Kupandol area, and there are enough craftsmen. When I started the boutique, the craftsmen I brought from India and my family lived in the same house. We lived on the top floor, there was a workshop on the first floor and a showroom on the ground floor. Later, when the business did not grow and there were challenges, I closed it after 6/7 years. Then I thought that I should do some other business. At that time, I started a spa, released a music album. Later, I gradually entered the family business. 

You are a celebrity in India, there must have been many people looking for you, you must have received offers from the modeling and film industries, but are you still leading the business, are you satisfied?

Of course, I am satisfied. After Miss India, Miss World or modeling, the next field was the film world. Many people in my family are in the film industry. They are producers, directors, actors. I was never attracted to the film industry even after seeing their lifestyle. When the work was good, they were good. And when it suddenly ended, everything would be chaotic. Although I had a screen test for the film. Yash Chopra, Dharmendraji even said OK. But in the end, my heart did not accept it and I did not enter the film industry. 

Do you speak pure Nepali, did you learn it from your family or did you have to hire a trainer? 

I never hired a teacher to learn Nepali. I learned from my family, from the house and office staff at our home. In the beginning, when I didn't understand much Nepali, some of our staff used to say, 'You speak like a child, sir.' I understand why you said 'like a child' back then. I also speak Punjabi, Hindi, Nepali, English and other languages. This made it easy for me to learn Nepali. 

In recent years, you have been actively involved in business. Along with automobiles, you have also been expanding your business in agriculture, tea and other productive sectors. What are your future plans? 

Our group's manufacturing sector is Huasin Cement. It is also in agriculture. Now, my brother-in-law looks after it. My portfolio includes many trading companies. There are XCMG Heavy Equipment, Ather Electric Two-Wheelers. My husband (Suraj Vaidyaji) looks after Morbi Daily, Ather and Benelli. After SAARC Tank, I have been involved in some apps related to Information and Technology (IT), education and IT. 

It is said that there has been a decrease in demand in the market and a slowdown in economic activity, has it affected the business or not? What are the problems and challenges of the Nepali market now? 

Economic activity has been sluggish for the last one and a half years. In the meantime, the Gen-G movement took place. In the next few months, not much work could be done for market reforms. There was a big gap until the formation of the interim government, elections and the formation of the new government. Because that period was like a transition period. Not many big decisions could be made. After the formation of the new government, signs of change have started to be seen. The government has been saying that it will work on corruption control and good governance. Meanwhile, there have been news that some industrialists and businessmen have been arrested and their activities have been investigated. I am looking at this government very positively. The new government has come on the strength of the Gen-G movement created by the dissatisfaction of the youth. Therefore, this government should be given time and opportunity to work. A new budget has been introduced. Along with the economic reform in the budget, many problems of the private sector have been addressed. However, how they will be implemented remains to be seen. The government should also be given a certain amount of time to implement the programs announced for economic reform. We hope that everything will be better for all of us in the future. For this, the government should make a special plan for at least the next five years and move forward.

What message would you like to give to domestic and foreign investors, startups and women entrepreneurs who want to do business in Nepal?

My suggestion or request is that we need more youth in this country. Unfortunately, they are going abroad for employment. There is no point in stopping them. Because remittances have become the basis of our country. If you want to work in Nepal, first organize yourself, identify your interests and abilities. Then start a business and you will be successful. I am confident. In a country like ours, young manpower is needed a lot. There is a shortage of manpower in many areas now. We also need young manpower to fill that shortage. It would be very good if that manpower could be supplied from internal manpower.

You are holding the second Naima Expo next Bhadra, have you distributed the stalls, how is the second expo different from the first? 

The work of distributing the stalls for the expo has been completed. There were 42 brands of vehicles in last year's Naima Expo. This time 50-52 brands will participate. Many people are interested in the expo. But we do not have the space. Since the expo is going to be held near Dashain Tihar, many people are interested in the auto show. We held the first expo last year. We delivered very well in that one. After receiving demand from all sides, we added one day to the expo, which was initially five days. Visitors will not only find more brands but also more variety in this expo than last year.

You are the founding president of Naima, you made the organization very famous in a year, but it is said that if Naima and NADA were under the same umbrella, they could have raised problems in this area more strongly. What is the possibility of Naima and NADA becoming one in the future? 

This is purely Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association. NAIMA includes only those who import and manufacture vehicles. Our main objective is to import or take them towards manufacturing and address it. We focus on this. All kinds of businesses related to spare parts, garages, automobiles can become members of NADA. Spare parts also come through the company's distributors. We are working on how to stop gray imports (imports through informal channels) and are suggesting to the government for necessary policy management. NAIMA's role should be expanded further. For this, everyone is welcome to NAIMA. Currently, there are 50/52 brands under NAIMA. It is like an industry. NAIMA wants to move forward together with NADA. Because NADA is also like an industry. We can work on how to move forward together. There have been attempts once or twice for this. It will continue from my side in the future as well.

What level do you plan to take NAIMA to in five years?

To introduce it as an honest organization. We make it capable and reliable for feedback, suggestions on issues related to the automobile or infrastructure sector. We focus on how to promote the entire automobile sector, how to develop entrepreneurship by focusing on infrastructure and training. 

Along with business, you are also raising the issue of road safety. You are also coordinating with government agencies. What is the situation of infrastructure and road safety in Nepal? 

There is a huge gap in infrastructure and road safety. We do not have highways, no flyovers. We have only added vehicles. The government must do a lot to move at the pace of the private sector. What is encouraging is that our discussions are ongoing. We are planning together with the government. The government is also trying to handle this situation. Our own country also has a limitation, we do not have a huge budget. That is why we are discussing how to manage it, how to carry it out fairly through a partnership between the private sector and the government. We will come to a conclusion soon.

The trend of celebrities/businessmen entering politics is increasing in Nepal, how likely are you to enter politics? 

I have no ambition to enter politics. I am enjoying my own business. Business is not only about money, but also about how many areas we can participate in. For me, business is also about social impact and should be. Of course, if the company earns money, the organization runs well and we can provide salaries and facilities to the workers. When the employees are well, the society is also well. It also affects the education, learning and career development of their children.

Even though businesses are registered in the name of women, their activity seems low, women are considered as protected in society, this also means that their confidence has not increased as expected, what should be done to advance women in entrepreneurship? 

We have many social differences. Since the family loves their daughters more, they are also protected more. We cannot ignore that. But I urge parents not to discriminate in the education of their children. शिक्षा र अवसरमा विभेद नगर्दा हरेक क्षेत्रमा महिलाले पनि पुरुषसरह नै योगदान दिन सक्छन् । समान शिक्षा दिइएको छैन भने महिला जहिल्यै पछि पर्छन् । म सानो हुँदा मेरा बुबा कहिलेकाहीं मसँग कबड्डी खेल्नुहुन्थ्यो । मलाई शारीरिक रूपमा पनि बलियो बनाउन उहाँ मसँग कबड्डी खेल्नुभएको हो । मानसिक र ज्ञान मात्र नभई शारीरिक रूपमा पनि सक्षम हुनुपर्छ । कसैले हेपिरहेको छ भने तपाईं पनि प्रतिक्रिया दिन सक्नुहुन्छ भन्ने डर ती व्यक्तिमा हुनुपर्छ । त्यसकारण महिलालाई बलियो बनाउने दायित्व परिवारको हो । अनि महिलाले समाजमा गएर आफ्ना लागि आफैं ठाउँ बनाउन सक्छन् । 

सरकारले आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको बजेट सार्वजनिक गरिसकेको छ, यस क्षेत्रको विकास र विस्तारका लागि सरकारलाई के सुझाव दिन चाहनुहुन्छ ?

 सरकारलाई काम गर्न अलि कति समय दिऔं । किनकि उहाँहरू पनि नयाँ हुनुहुन्छ । जस्तै, कम्पनीको नाम एउटा छ । तर कम्पनीभित्र सबै परिवर्तन भए जस्तो छ । सरकारले पनि आफ्नो भूमिका र दिशा तय गर्नुपर्छ । सरकारको नियत स्पष्ट र शुद्ध देखिन्छ । डेलिभरी दिन खोज्दै छ । आगामी पाँच वर्षमा यी–यी काम गर्छौं र सेवा दिर्न्छौं भनेर वाचापत्र, सुशासनसम्बन्धी सयबुँदे कार्यसूचीलगायत आएका छन् । त्यसकारण सरकारलाई काम गर्न समय दिऔं ।

१५ जेठमा बजेट आएको एक/दुई दिनपछि विभिन्न कम्पनीका विद्युतीय गाडी सरकारले नियन्त्रणमा लियो, अहिले केही कम्पनीका गाडी फुकुवा पनि भइसकेका छन् ? किन नियन्त्रणमा लिइयो र किन छोडिएछ ?