Nepal, April 2 -- The Department of Industry has invited start-ups to submit proposals for subsidised loans, but potential applicants are sceptical after a similar initiative by the National Planning Commission two years ago came to nothing.

Participating start-ups have been promised loans of up to Rs2.5 million at 3 percent interest.

Firms that applied for the credit plan announced by the National Planning Commission but were never called say it is another political stunt.

"We submitted a 60-page-long proposal to the National Planning Commission to get the subsidised loan, but the scheme was a non-starter," said Ramesh Timilsina, co-founder of Skill Sewa, a home inspection company that provides services like construction, interior des...