The Federation of International Nepali Youth Entrepreneurs (FINYE) is a global, non-profit organization with a worldwide network and various country chapters, one of which is FINYE Hong Kong.
FINYE Hong Kong recently elected a new executive committee, with the young leader Soyena Dhakal as its President. Dhakal, who holds expertise in the financial sector, is the Director at Finex Hong Kong Limited.
The Gen Z movement in Nepal that took place on September 8-9 shook the country's power structure. FINYE's Hong Kong chapter, which was established with the goal of involving and supporting youth, has now entrusted the responsibility of youth entrepreneurship to Dhakal, who belongs to the Gen-Z group.
What is Dhakal's vision for steering FINYE Hong Kong forward? Nepalkhabar talked to Dhakal over the telephone. Excerpts:
What kind of organization is FINYE?
The Federation of International Nepali Youth Entrepreneurs (FINYE) is a global network. It has various chapters, such as in Japan, the US, the UK, Hong Kong, etc. It is a non-profit organization. It mainly focuses on how to support Youth Entrepreneurship. It focuses on Youth and Entrepreneurship.
What does FINYE do in Hong Kong?
FINYE Hong Kong mainly organizes networking events and conferences in Hong Kong. It holds various events to see how entrepreneurship can be empowered. Last year, we held a program called "Coffee Talk." There, we brought an expert from a particular field for a coffee session where they shared a presentation and their journey. This kind of event was very successful. We had six such programs last year. Our organization is primarily about networking, where you get to meet people with experience in various fields. I remember one member who attended such an event, was inspired by what they heard, and started their own side business.
How did you get involved with FINYE Hong Kong?
Last year, during the organization's convention, an official proposed my name. I then served as the Secretary when Inder Pun was the President. I joined the organization after they proposed it.
So, can anyone become a member? Are there any prerequisites?
The organization's objective is to involve youth. Perhaps others joined in the same way I did. As for my case, I used to attend the organization's events even while studying at the university. In that process, I was proposed to be in the committee, and I joined.
FINYE seems to prioritize youth entrepreneurship. How does the organization inspire youth to become entrepreneurs?
Just recently, FINYE Hong Kong organized a seminar. More than 120 participants from ten countries attended the International Youth Entrepreneur Summit (I-YES) 2024. We also started a podcast from this summit. The social media reach of the program quickly surpassed 100,000. There were eight inspiring key presentations and eight panel discussions. Youth participation in the program was also significant. The main objective of that summit was to inspire youth toward entrepreneurship.
How does FINYE Hong Kong connect with Nepal?
It connects with Nepal through entrepreneurship as well. For example, the CEO of Khalti, a platform at the forefront of digital transactions in Nepal, was one of the participants in our summit. They had actually come for a conference, and we took the opportunity to have a talk show with them. The organization's goal is for conversations with entrepreneurs like them to inspire youth to become an entrepreneur. We connect with Nepal and its youth through such programs—be it a seminar or a summit. Our aim is to open doors of opportunity through such events.
You have been elected as the President of FINYE Hong Kong. How will you manage your career and the organization's work?
We will continue to advance our respective careers as we were doing before. It was the same when I joined the organization, and it will remain so. Since the team works in the organization, there won't be a problem. The team worked in previous years, and it will be the same now. We must continue to advance our careers while working according to the organization's goals.
As the President, what are your future plans?
As Nepali people in Hong Kong, we are a minority. This presents challenges. The answers to the questions mentioned above may not lead to the right conclusion if one only thinks about them alone. Connecting with the outside world can help. You can find the right direction by listening to the success stories of various people and mingling with the community.
Therefore, I felt that the seminars, talk shows, podcasts, and other programs FINYE Hong Kong conducted last year could help young people who are confused find the right path. For my future plans, I intend to continue these activities, refine them further, add workshops, and organize networking events.
The summit is planned to be held every two years. The next summit will be in 2026. It has not been confirmed which chapter will host it. Nevertheless, it will continue wherever it is held.
Another area I want to focus on is how to involve university students more. Last year, we did not approach university students directly. Since we talk about youth, my effort will be to find ways to connect university students with us. This is a big personal wish of mine. This will be one of the first programs of my working committee.
This is my personal desire. However, the team has just been formed. Discussions on how to proceed are yet to take place. A conclusion on what to do will be reached in line with the opinion and advice of all the members.
Is the newly formed executive committee composed entirely of young people?
Compared to me, some are younger, and some are more senior. The previous working committee also had a youth presence. The sentiment of the Gen Z movement in Nepal aligns with our organization's main goal: youth participation, support for youth, and youth entrepreneurship.
What does that mean? How should we understand it?
FINYE is not a charity organization—other organizations are committed to that work and are doing well. Therefore, instead of calling our work social service, it is more appropriate to call it youth empowerment.
In Hong Kong, the Indian-origin population is also significant. The presence of Filipinos and Indonesians is also strong. Looking at the Indian community, they are doing very well. Nepali people are also doing well, but we need to learn how they quickly seize opportunities and advance.
Therefore, we need to be aware of how to best advance the Nepali community, which is a minority community in Hong Kong. Having said that, our focus will remain on youth and entrepreneurship.
Finally, what is your message to Nepali youth who wish to connect with FINYE?
We, the youth, believe in development, success, and entrepreneurship. However, not everyone will become an entrepreneur. Recognizing this fact, we must focus on providing practical guidance: how to make the most of available platforms, effectively advance in diverse roles, and unlock every young person's potential to find their unique direction.
Platforms like FINYE help inspire, connect, and promote through the knowledge shared by experienced individuals who have gained expertise in various fields.
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