78 cooperative societies receive certificates

A TOTAL of 78 cooperative society certificates were presented to successful applicants in Western Highlands on Friday.
The certificates will allow the groups to venture into businesses activities.
The certificates were delivered to the successful groups by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies of PNG, Joseph Injipa, in Mt Hagen.
Injipa said Western Highlands was the first province issued certificates on the same day meaning they were prepared the same day straight after lodgement of applications.
He said previously people and groups had to wait for months before acquiring certification.
He said his office was now using the “pull concept” which was going to the provinces.
He said under the Cooperative Society Act 1985, they have so far registered 8,000 cooperative societies throughout the country.
Injipa said that the Department of Commerce and Industry was serious about seeing cooperative society become established and be the business model for people in the rural areas.
“The government is doing all it can to help people and starting cooperative societies is where they can develop a business,” Injipa said.
“It needs more than seven people to start a cooperative society and this is business as you will have a share in the decision making.”
He said the aim of the Commerce and Industry Department was to reach as many people in the rural areas as possible.
Injipa said that all office facilities including business trainers had been moved from Port Moresby to Mt Hagen so that certificates were printed and training conducted during their four days visit to the province.
He said cooperative societies could produce small and medium enterprises (SMEs).