Kathmandu: The Business Development Service Program launched by the NEFSCUN has been becoming an exemplary initiative within financial cooperatives. Within three years, it has refined its loan services, and within five years, financial cooperatives have shown significant progress in transforming entrepreneurs into industrialists through continuous practice.

Through NEFSCUN’s Super Business Development Service Desk, established in financial cooperatives, this program aims to provide business counseling that fosters entrepreneurship among members, while continuously supporting them in business technology, capital mobilization, and market access. Over the next 5 to 7 years, this program will work towards transforming entrepreneurs into full-fledged industrialists.

The services under this program will operate uniquely compared to existing practices in the country. Potential enterprises will first be identified within the financial cooperatives, and relevant share members will be matched to those enterprise models. Thereafter, continuous business development support will be provided to those potential entrepreneurs. The program will emphasize developing professional skills, promoting markets for local production, and encouraging the consumption of nutritious and healthy products. Additionally, each enterprise will be supported to ensure technology, capital, and market access.

Activities conducted through BDS will emphasize the protection of water, land, forest, and animals/livestock and the establishment of environmentally friendly and community-beneficial enterprises, with technical and marketing assistance provided as needed.

This program aims to create employment, increase production and income, and ensure the productive use of idle time. It aligns with the spirit of the government’s 16th Five-Year Plan and seeks to continue its implementation in accordance with national policies and directives.

Achievements under the Business Development Service Program so far:

1. Preparation and submission (to the Cooperative Research and Training Center of the Government of Nepal) of guidelines and training manuals covering:
   • Business Development Service (BDS) program concept and operations,
   • Training for BDS desk operations,
   • Capacity development for BDS counselors and staff,
   • Entrepreneurial capacity enhancement,
   • Enterprise market chain management, and
   • Product sales and pre-marketing management.
2. Completion of orientation and awareness sessions on the concept, rationale, objectives, functions, expected outcomes, and processes of the BDS program in the following saving and credit cooperative society limited (SACCOS)s:
   • Letang Community SACCOS – Morang
   • Mahila SACCOS – Sunsari
   • Kisan Kalyan SACCOS – Sunsari
   • Sahayogi SACCOS – Udayapur
   • Sakriya Mahila SACCOS – Makwanpur
   • Mahila Milan SACCOS – Makwanpur
   • Pewa SACCOS – Ratnanagar
   • Jhuwani Mahila SACCOS – Sauraha
   • Bachhauli Nari SACCOS – Sauraha
   • Panchatara Mahila SACCOS – Sauraha
   • Himali Brahmi Mahila SACCOS – Bharatpur
   • Prabhat Didi-Bahini SACCOS – Bharatpur
   • Vyccu SACCOS – Gaindakot
   • Kishan SACCOS – Gaindakot
   • Jan Utthan SACCOS – Tilottama
   • Hamro Super SACCOS – Bardaghat
3. Formal signing of written agreements for the BDS program with:
   • Kihsan Kalyan SACCOS – Sunsari
   • Sahayogi SACCOS – Udayapur
   • Prabhat Didi-Bahini SACCOS – Chitwan
   • Sakriya Mahila SACCOS – Makwanpur
   • Pewa SACCOS – Chitwan
   • Mahila Milan SACCOS – Makwanpur

To further energize this program, a DSIK Germany (An apex organization of Saving Bank in Germany) has also been providing technical assistance. In addition, the NEFSCUN has been coordinating and cooperating with the relevant multilateral and bilateral international organizations for further support. To ensure effective implementation of this program, coordination and facilitation are being carried out through the NEFSCUN’s central office and member service offices by Senior Officer, Mr. Navin Raj Dahal, Officers Ms. Rita Subedi and Ms. Radha Poudel and Member Service Offices Mr. Rishav Regmi (Sunsari), Ms. Yamkala Subedi (Chitwan) & Mr. Pawan Jung Malla (Rupandehi).