As part of the Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) approach applied by GRAPE, five municipalities in Lumbini Province are currently receiving support in drafting their economic development strategies.

Siddharthanagar Municipality received technical facilitation support to develop its inclusive and locally owned economic development strategy. The strategy takes a territorial perspective to promote the existing competitive sectors and guide the municipality's short-term (5 years) to longer-term (20 years) economic development process. The GRAPE project facilitates a local expert team consisting of municipality representatives, local chambers/business associations, the cooperative sector, academia, and sectoral experts in the drafting process. On September 20, 2022, a kick-off workshop chaired by Deputy Mayor Ms. Uma Adhikari took place in Siddharthanagar with more than 100 participants from diverse backgrounds.

The economic development strategy document for Siddharthanagar will soon be drafted and shared with the local stakeholders for their feedback to be received by November 2022. From early 2023 on, this strategy will provide orientation and a guiding framework for the municipality’s decision-making process in the years to come.