KATHMANDU, Nepal – Entrepreneurship advocate Anna Marie Periquet was appointed chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Group Asia Pacific (YEGAP) during the 27th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal in October.
The YEGAP breakout session drew in over 200 YEGAP members composed of top young entrepreneurs from Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry member countries.
The YEGAP is an organization under the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI). Young entrepreneur delegates discussed trends and developments, concerns, and prospects for growth of entrepreneurship in the region. The participants also explored possible areas of cooperation among YEGAP members in promoting entrepreneurship among the start-up entrepreneurs.
Periquet said there is a need to work together amidst the global challenges that are going on so all member countries can attain global competitiveness. She stressed that in the Asia-Pacific region, the state of entrepreneurship has never been as dynamic as it is today. “Through entrepreneurship, economic growth has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of subsistence agriculture into manufacturing and service employment, increasing wealth and reducing poverty. Entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific rim now have the vital role of further increasing regional business interaction, networking and enhancing regional economic growth,” Periquet said.
Keynote speakers also included Asmi Rana, the first Nepalese to be honored as 2008 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Rana spoke on education and entrepreneurship by highlighting the importance of skills and leadership. She also shared her business practices based on her various entrepreneurial undertakings in manufacturing and exportation of cashmere products, education, real estate investment and development and general trading.
Hiroaki Hyodo, chairman of Japan Young Entrepreneurs Group, shared the model and structure of the Japan YEG which boasts of a membership base of 30,000 members. He said that the main role of Japan YEG is to listen to the various issues and problems of their members and formulate solutions that are forwarded to the government for their consideration.
Ajay Pradhananga, president of the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) presented the status and prospects of entrepreneurship in Nepal by expounding on the current industrialization efforts of both the government and private sector. He also introduced Made in Nepal, an initiative of the NYEF in promoting Nepalese-made products which has now reached a global scale. The Made in Nepal road shows have currently reached the US and Europe expos.
Pradhananga also shared the secret of his company’s success, Fleur Himalayan, Ltd., the largest herbs-based company in Kathmandu which he converted into a world-class venture in herbal line of products.
YEGAP member countries Australia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam were in attendance. Periquet welcomed new member Nepal to the YEGAP.
The YEGAP carries an agenda and plan of action for the purpose of encouraging more entrepreneurs from the region to take an active role in various sectors of the society, and also in equal importance, in government, business and socio-economic sectors. It serves as an effective venue to implement suitable programs that are available to young entrepreneurs in Asia-Pacific.
Periquet reiterated that after the very successful breakout session in Kathmandu, she believed the YEGAP members will all find new sparks of inspiration that will translate real life-changing experiences not only for themselves but more so for the many entrepreneurs who the YEGAP still has not reached out to.
“The various programs of YEGAP include the creation of business incubator facilities in universities, passing on of second expertise from universities and large enterprises to budding entrepreneurs, and providing training opportunities to SMEs through visits and attachments to large enterprises of CACCI member countries. The YEGAP also builds its network through trade directories, trade missions, business matching and sub-contracting businesses,” Periquet enumerated.