Kathmandu, April 20 : The government has started preparing for engaging the youths losing employment due to the coronavirus pandemic in entrepreneurship within the country itself.    
This topic was deliberated during a meeting held at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on Sunday. The meeting dwelt on creating job opportunities within the country and the kind of initiatives required for this purpose.    
The meeting was called by Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Lekhraj Bhatta. Representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and other trade and business organisations were present in the meeting.    
The meeting decided to form a committee under the coordination of the Industrial Investment and Promotion Division at the Ministry for preparing a special plan for involving the youths returned home from across the world losing jobs due to COVID-19 in productive entrepreneurship.    
The committee comprises the representative each from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration as well as representatives from the umbrella organisation of industries and commerce.    
Minister Bhatta said the newly-formed taskforce has been given 15 days' time to submit a report with suggestions.    
The meeting, likewise, decided to provide the salary of workers working in industries for the lockdown period. All the industries that have closed due to the lockdown have been divided into three phases and a decision made to present a proposal to the high-level committee for the operation of these industries, the Ministry has stated.