New practices have been initiated in the field of women's entrepreneurship in Nepal. Various efforts have also been made to reform the legal aspect. With the strong participation of women in the recent political changes, the voice of their active presence has also been raised in the economic sector.

Women's entrepreneurship is increasing due to policies, programs, legal provisions, and state policies to encourage women's entrepreneurship. To promote entrepreneurship, the government has made policy arrangements such as involving women in micro, cottage and small industries, providing collateral-free concessional loans, and establishing funds. Nevertheless, women entrepreneurs continue to face financial access, competition in the market, availability of technology, and policy challenges.

Women entrepreneurs have to deal with various structural and social challenges. Lack of capital, lack of assets to provide collateral, patriarchal social thinking, and the hassle of balancing business with family responsibilities are faced by women entrepreneurs on a daily basis. Since women do not own real estate, they have to deal with various difficulties in taking loans and investing. On top of that, society still tends to view them as weak. Women entrepreneurs have the experience of finding it difficult to establish themselves in business as they have more household responsibilities and have to manage social aspects as well. The main challenge for women entrepreneurs is in raising financial resources and marketing the products they produce. 

Due to the lack of effective implementation of government policies, there is difficulty in obtaining unsecured loans. There is a problem in marketing and lack of access to skill development. Businesses that are conducted by delving into various issues do not yield sustainable returns. Therefore, there is a need to focus on policy and practical reforms while addressing the problems and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. The government is preparing to introduce a new strategy for women entrepreneurship by considering such problems. 

In the government's policy and program for the fiscal year 2083/84, which was passed by the House of Representatives a few days ago, the government stated that it would formulate a 'Women's Entrepreneurship Development Strategy' to make women-led enterprises market-oriented. In addition, the government's policy also mentions that a new 'National Industrial Policy' will be formulated by revising the Industrial Policy-2067, and a 'National Enterprise Promotion Facility' will be established to provide integrated access to finance, technology, market and capacity development to startups, micro, small and medium enterprises. Women's participation in micro and small industries is increasing. However, lack of marketing, lack of technical knowledge and weak networks have hindered their entrepreneurship development. 

As the government prepares to formulate the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84, women entrepreneurs and businessmen have raised the demand for facilitating access to concessional credit through the upcoming budget and removing cumbersome legal and administrative procedures. Women entrepreneurs have demanded that the government improve tax and customs policies and create a women-friendly economic environment. The tendency of financial institutions not to provide credit facilities to women entrepreneurs has become an obstacle to women's entrepreneurship. As banks and financial institutions have shown indifference in providing loans to women, the share of women in financial access is very low.  

According to a statistic, 72,000 women entrepreneurs were able to obtain concessional loans in 2024/25. Only 13.4 percent of women entrepreneurs were able to mobilize bank loans. According to census data, 32.4 percent of women are forced to remain inactive due to housework and 9.8 percent due to family care and they are not able to engage in economic activities. According to the Sixteenth Plan, the participation rate of women in the labor force is 26.3 percent. The latest economic survey shows that 90.5 percent of the female labor force is in the informal sector. Their labor has become worthless due to lack of access to safe labor and adequate resources. Due to social structure and additional household responsibilities, it is difficult to devote time to the enterprise.  

Similarly, small entrepreneurs are in a situation where they do not get a small amount of raw materials and have to pay high prices even if they do get them, which increases the cost of production and leads to a limited market for their products. A study by the Ministry of Industry says that women entrepreneurs have to deal with lack of financial access, social thinking, family responsibilities and policy complications. Women have to face policy dilemmas due to systemic weaknesses. The failure to formulate policies with a simple tax system, industry-friendly monetary policy, market access, digital-financial literacy and policy facilitation as a priority has also added to the challenges. In order to prevent such challenges from increasing further, stable policies, easy administration and a positive approach towards business are necessary for women entrepreneurs, says a woman entrepreneur. In the upcoming budget, the government needs to come up with a plan that encourages only new entrepreneurs and also includes displaced old women entrepreneurs.

The constitution, industrial policy and concessional loan program aim to empower women economically. The Industrial Policy-2067 has prioritized women, Dalits and backward communities in industry registration, tax exemption and concessional loans with the aim of increasing women's participation in cottage and small industries. The budget for the current fiscal year 2082/83 has a provision that there will be no fee for registering and renewing an industry or company in the name of women. It is stated that concessional loans will be provided to young entrepreneurs at an interest rate of three percent. The program to promote women's entrepreneurship has been prioritized by conducting capacity development programs to connect the labor and skills of housewives with small and home-based enterprises. 

In the previous budget, the government had set the objective of establishing 130 industrial villages across the country and also made provision for exemption from fees for registering industries in the name of women. In the Sixteenth Plan, a sustainable, employment-oriented and high-yield industrial development has been put forward for economic prosperity under the Industrial Development and Management Program. Such policies have helped promote women's entrepreneurship. 

Women's entrepreneurship is the basis of economic empowerment, poverty reduction and inclusive development. Due to the attractive policies, programs and concessional arrangements introduced by the government targeting women's entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs have found a branch to climb in entrepreneurship, but have not found a branch to hold on to. In order to stand strong and move forward in their businesses, the state should prioritize women's entrepreneurship and arrange policies, programs and budgets. In addition, the existing policies should be implemented effectively. And, emphasis should be placed on building economic and social infrastructure. The framework for entrepreneurship development should be set only by removing social barriers that are unfavorable to economic infrastructure and development, such as transportation, communication, electricity, energy facilities, market expansion, etc. Women's access to property should be increased to increase women's participation in entrepreneurship.