Uttam Gurung is one of the few successful Nepalese entrepreneurs in Qatar. He came to Qatar in 2009 to work in a construction company as an office secretary. After two years of gaining experience and saving money, he started his own venture, but suffered heavy losses. 
Gurung was shattered by the huge loss but never lost hope. He made one more attempt and started another firm from which stems the two of his current enterprises – Visible Horizon Trading and Contracting Company and Royal Effort Contracting and Cleaning Company. As of now, he has provided jobs to nearly 200 employees coming from Nepal, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines among other countries.
Gurung comes from a middle-class family from eastern Nepal. Having completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he taught students for almost three years. “The teaching profession was not much lucrative, it was not even enough to pay the bills,” the Nepalese expat recalls. Despite the monetary problems of a teaching profession, Gurung remained true to his profession and respected his work. 
“Destiny brought me overseas. Most of my friends were working in the Gulf region, but I first opted for Singapore to work as a helper,” he says. During his one-year stay in Singapore, his owner treated him badly. “I couldn’t be put up with exploitation and so returned home only to go Saudi Arabia to work in a warehouse.” 
Gurung worked in Saudi Arabia for four-and-half years and with the money earned, he opened an education institute in his neighbourhood in Nepal. Soon, the institute suffered losses and he came to Qatar. He did not imagine that a schoolteacher can be successful in running a business.
But the environment of Qatar favoured him to build a successful organisation. Now, some of his students have gone on to become doctors, engineers and professionals in their home country. Says the former teacher: “How much ever satisfied I am with my business in Qatar, the more happier I am to see my students excelling in higher education. I am proud of my students’ achievements.” Mostly students of his institute were from a poor economic background and Gurung’s support helped them to cope financially in achieving their goals. 
According to Gurung, time favoured him when he started a new business in 2012 after his first initiative failed miserably  incurring huge financial losses. His two companies are still repaying debts. Many from his hometown in Nepal are working in these companies, and they are successful in raising their living standards.
Gurung’s family in Nepal has also benefited immensely by his success in Qatar. He has helped his brothers set up businesses in Kathmandu, the country’s capital. The former teacher also helped his sister to start a food outlet. 
Spurred by his success, Gurung has ventured out and runs a real-estate business and a restaurant in the heart of Kathmandu. Says he: “I am financially stable now. But that does not mean I have to enjoy my life. I take this opportunity, which Qatar has provided me, to make the lives of my family members better.” 
Apart from his pursuit as an entrepreneur, Gurung is fond of Nepalese culture and social work. He has sponsored many a cultural programme in Doha and has brought in many popular artistes to perform here. He was on the forefront to help during last April’s crisis in Nepal brought by the devastating earthquake. Gurung contributed Nepalese rupee 500,000 to a social organisation to assist the earthquake survivors. 
He also supports an old age home in west Nepal and funds a charity organisation for orphaned kids. In the near future, he plans to focus his charity in the field of sports. Recently, he did a musical programme in Qatar to raise awareness against human trafficking from Nepal. Last year, NEFTA organised an award programme in Qatar, which was financially backed by Gurung.  
The former teacher has been honoured by many non-resident Nepalese organisations for his relentless support towards the community and his contribution towards his countrymen. Rythum Art Centre and Nepali Cultural Family honoured Gurung for his support to the organisation to promote cultural activities in Qatar. Likewise, Tamu Society honoured him for his support to a reality show organised by Tamu cultural family.