Pokhara: Saugat Thapa, a candidate for the post of Vice-President (Industry) in the 36th General Convention and 72nd Annual General Meeting of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), has emphasized the need to combine the experience of senior business leaders with the energy of young entrepreneurs to take the association to a new height.

Speaking at a candidate introduction program held on Saturday, Thapa, who is contesting for the post of Industry Vice-President from the panel led by Shobha Gautam, said his primary objective is to ensure that the voices of young businesspeople reach the leadership and decision-making processes of the association.

Thapa, who is also the Managing Director of Anshubhara Group, said he has been directly involved in the management of Baigacha Wellness Resort and Pokhara Trade Mall. He also shared his experience of serving as a member of the association’s executive committee for two consecutive terms.

He expressed gratitude to outgoing President Pawan Kumar Prajapati for providing him with the opportunity to work in the association, as well as to all industrialists and businesspeople who elected him to the executive committee.

“Today’s youth are not only looking for employment; they also have the capacity to create employment,” Thapa said. “It is necessary to strengthen the association by combining the new ideas, technology and energy of young people with the experience of senior entrepreneurs.”

Thapa pledged that, if elected, he would prioritize training, business consulting, networking and digital market expansion programs for young entrepreneurs. He said he would coordinate with the private sector, banks, government agencies and educational institutions to connect businesses in Pokhara with national and international markets.

Expressing his commitment to making the association transparent, technology-friendly, inclusive and business-friendly, Thapa said he would listen to the concerns of its members and take effective initiatives to address their problems.

During the program, Thapa also spoke about the difficult circumstances he had faced in his personal life. He said it had been difficult for him and his family to recover after his home and business establishments suffered significant damage from arson, vandalism and looting during the Gen Z movement on September 10, 2025 (Bhadra 24, 2082 BS).

“I am gradually rising again by turning that terrible grief into strength,” he said. “With new enthusiasm, determination and energy, I have made an effort to move forward for the greater interests of the association and the business community.”

Thapa emphasized that the experience of senior entrepreneurs and the energy of young people should be regarded as complementary forces and taken forward together.

Linking his candidacy to the collective interests of the business community rather than merely to a personal position, he said, “My candidacy is not just for a position; it is for work.”