Kathmandu, October 14

The government has decided to set up an Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI) each in all the seven provinces.

Aimed at strengthening the industrial and entrepreneurship sector, the Cabinet meeting today gave a nod to proposal of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) to establish such institute in all provinces, informed Matrika Prasad Yadav, minister for industry, commerce and supplies.

The government had established IEDI in 1996, under the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute Act 1996, to develop human and knowledge resources for entrepreneurship and business promotion in Nepal. However, the institute had been limited only at the central level so far.

With a view to promote business in the country through entrepreneurship development, the Industrial Enterprise Development

Institute Board, chaired by Minister Yadav, had taken the proposal to expand IEDIs to the provincial level.

Since its inception, IEDI has been engaged in running various impact-generating quality tools such as training, research, consultancy, enterprise education, and management development programmes. The institute is also running various short-term and long-term training programmes targeting intermediary organisations as well as potential and existing entrepreneurs.

The IEDI also focuses on research and development, testing and dissemination of best practices in business development around the world.

“Formation of such institutes in all provinces will help entrepreneurship to grow in Nepal and promote business,” said Industry Secretary Yam Kumari Khatiwada.

However, Khatiwada informed that IEDI already has its local offices in Provinces 1, 3, 4 and 5, which will now be handed over to the provincial governments. “If the Cabinet has approved our proposal, IEDI will be established in Provinces 2, 6 and 7,” said Khatiwada.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has decided to keep Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Authority at central level only.