When we talk about successful businessmen from Nepal, one name that stands out is Binod Chaudhary.
He is the Chairman of Chaudhary Group (CG), a business group that has grown from a small family business into a large international business group.
But his journey did not start with a huge company or a big office.
It started with a small business idea when he was very young.
The First Business Lesson
Binod Chaudhary was around 14 years old when he got his first real taste of business.
He was studying in a vocational school. One of his teachers encouraged him to start a small snack shop inside the school.
Binod borrowed some money and, along with his classmates, bought snacks and other small items. They then sold them to students.
It was a very small business, but it taught him something important.
He learned how to buy products, keep stock, sell them and understand what customers wanted.
Years later, he remembered this as one of his first business lessons.
A Family Business With a Long History
The roots of CG go back many years.
Binod’s grandfather, Bhuramull Chaudhary, started the family’s business in Nepal. The family first worked in textile trading and later entered several other businesses.
Over the years, the family expanded into manufacturing, construction, retail and other areas.
Binod joined the family business and started thinking beyond the traditional business.
He wanted to take the company outside Nepal and build businesses that could compete in international markets.
From a Young Entrepreneur to a Big Businessman
In his younger days, Binod Chaudhary also entered businesses outside the traditional family business.
One of his early ventures was a nightclub called Copper Floor in Kathmandu. At the time, he was a young businessman trying different ideas and learning from the market.
His approach was simple — look for opportunities and be ready to take a calculated risk.
Slowly, he started expanding into different industries.
CG entered areas such as real estate, education, hotels, financial services, cement, energy, telecom and consumer products.
The Wai Wai Story
One of the biggest names connected with Binod Chaudhary is Wai Wai.
The instant noodle brand became one of CG’s most well-known products, not only in Nepal but also in many other countries.
Wai Wai became an important part of CG’s international growth.
The company later built manufacturing operations in countries including India, Serbia, Bangladesh and other markets.
For Binod Chaudhary, this was more than selling noodles.
It showed that a product from Nepal could reach customers in different parts of the world.
Thinking Beyond Nepal
One of the biggest changes in Binod Chaudhary’s business journey was his decision to look at the world as a market.
Instead of keeping the business limited to Nepal, CG started expanding into different countries and industries.
Today, CG Corp Global says its businesses cover more than 30 countries and include hundreds of companies and brands. Its businesses range from FMCG and hotels to financial services, education, cement, energy and infrastructure.
This growth did not happen in one day.
It came through years of taking risks, entering new businesses and learning from different markets.
Business During Difficult Times
Business growth also brings difficult moments.
Nepal faced a major earthquake in 2015. Binod Chaudhary and his team became involved in relief work. CG’s resources, including schools and food products, were used to help people affected by the disaster.
This part of his journey also shows another side of business — responsibility towards society.
From Nepal to the World
Binod Chaudhary eventually became the first billionaire from Nepal to appear on the Forbes Billionaires list.
Forbes currently lists him as the chairman and controlling figure behind CG Corp Global, with major interests including CG Foods and Nabil Bank.
But perhaps the most interesting part of his story is where he started.
A young boy selling snacks in a school could not have known that his small business experience would become the beginning of a much bigger journey.
What We Can Learn From His Journey
Binod Chaudhary’s story gives a few simple business lessons.
Start small.
A business does not have to begin with a lot of money.
Learn from the market.
His first small shop taught him the basics of buying, selling and understanding customers.
Look for new opportunities.
He did not keep CG limited to one type of business.
Think beyond your local market.
Wai Wai became an example of how a product from Nepal could reach customers around the world.
Be ready to take calculated risks.
Business always involves uncertainty. The important thing is to understand the risk before taking it.
Binod Chaudhary’s journey is not just a story about becoming wealthy.
It is a story about starting with small opportunities, learning along the way and slowly building something much bigger.
From a small family business in Nepal to an international business group, the journey of Binod Chaudhary and CG is a good example of how long-term thinking can change the size of a business.
And perhaps the biggest lesson is very simple:
You do not need to start big. You need to start, learn and keep moving forward.
