6th May 2025, Kathmandu
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is gearing up to organize the second edition of the Kathmandu Skill Fair, starting Jestha 7, 2082 at Tundikhel. The fair aims to connect skilled youth with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Building on last year’s success, this event is set to become a game-changer in Nepal’s labor market.
Mayor Balen Shah Highlights Skills
Mayor Balen Shah: “Skills Can Create Domestic Jobs
KMC Mayor Balen Shah said the Skill Fair is more than an event. It’s a vision for Nepal’s future. According to him, helping the youth realize their potential, choose domestic employment, or launch their own business is the biggest advice we can offer today’s generation.
He emphasized that KMC is committed to organizing skill-based training throughout the year. These trainings are designed to produce job-ready human capital. Shah stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to align training programs with real industry demands.
“If the private sector tells us what kind of skilled workers they need, we will develop training accordingly,” said Shah. “Your demand becomes our roadmap.”
Private Sector Sees Skill Fair as a Bridge
Leaders from Nepal’s top businesses attended a recent meeting with Mayor Shah. They expressed willingness to support the upcoming fair and praised last year’s outcomes.
They agreed that the Skill Fair acts as a bridge between skilled manpower and employers. It not only helps companies meet labor shortages but also provides youth with clear career paths.
The representatives included:
Shekhar Golchha (Golchha Group)
Suraj Vaidya (Vaidya Group)
Kumud Dugad (KL Dugar Group)
Nirvana Chaudhary (Chaudhary Group)
Ravi KC & Prem Aryal (Surya Nepal)
Bishakha Lakshmi Khadka (Ncell Foundation)
Ramchandra Sanghai (Triveni Group)
Akhil Gupta (Shankar Group)
Success Story: Skill Fair 2081
The first edition of the fair, held in 2081 on Labour Day, exceeded expectations. The goal was to train 2,081 individuals, but 2,725 received training. Over 1,200 trainees secured jobs both in Nepal and abroad.
According to Engineer Shailendra Jha of the Urban Planning Commission, the fair saw 68,866 training applications in its first year. The interest was overwhelming, showing the growing demand for practical skills among the youth.
The 2082 Goal: Skills to Support 5,000 Jobs
Under KMC’s flagship program, “Employment and Income Growth for a Prosperous Kathmandu,” the city aims to provide skill training to 15,000 people. Of those, at least 5,000 are expected to secure employment or start a business.
The program connects:
Education with skills
Skills with labor
Labor with production
The vision is to make unskilled individuals skilled, offer jobs to the trained, and upskill those already working to increase income and efficiency.
Training That Aligns With Market Demand
KMC is working to ensure that skill development programs are not just theoretical. The goal is to match training with market needs.
Private sector leaders highlighted that while many Nepali youth are reluctant to take up jobs like plumbing, masonry, or hairdressing within the country, they are happy to do the same work abroad.
This points to a social mindset issue that needs fixing. These sectors offer immediate job opportunities, but they lack domestic appeal. Skill fairs like this aim to rebrand these professions and show their potential.
Retaining Skilled Talent Within Nepal
Nepal faces a major issue: skilled workers leaving for foreign employment. Business leaders urged the city to focus on:
Updating training to advanced levels
Creating jobs that encourage returnees to stay in Nepal
Involving retirees in the labor force
Collaborating with banks for seed funding
The Skill Fair provides the perfect platform to implement these strategies. By offering locally-relevant training, matching trainees with employers, and facilitating startup funding, the fair can slow the brain drain and strengthen Nepal’s economy.
Creating Hope and Formal Opportunities
Mayor Shah pointed out that the collaboration is more than a training initiative. It’s about giving hope to youth and creating formal employment out of informal labor.
Many people in Nepal remain stuck in the informal economy because they lack recognized skills. The fair helps transform informal workers into skilled professionals, boosting both their income and national productivity.
Conclusion: Skill Fair 2082 Could Transform Nepal’s Workforce
The Kathmandu Skill Fair 2082 is more than a recruitment event. It’s a strategic intervention in Nepal’s employment ecosystem. By aligning skills with demand, connecting youth to employers, and inspiring self-employment, it bridges the gap between potential and opportunity.
With strong support from the private sector and clear goals set by Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the Skill Fair stands as a model for urban employment planning in Nepal.
For more: Mayor Balen Shah Highlights Skills