Council urges businesses not to rely on government

 CORPORATE businesses have been urged to work together to involve small and medium sized enterprises into the global trade chain without relying on the Government.

Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) 2015, Doris Magsaysay Ho, said that businesses in the country should work collectively and not rely on the Government and policymaking bodies to build up SME involvement in global trade and relationship. “It is something that we can rely on the policy makers to do, but it is something that each on of you businesses can actually do to bring in smaller businesses into a value driven relationship,” she said.

“We spend a lot of time waiting for the Government but there is a lot of power in businesses.

“The impact and the power the business has to be able to bring in the smaller business of Papua New Guinea to participatipants in global trade are extremely great.

 “All businesses have the power to help make these things change through bottom up approaches to the Government

Ho said the hosting of the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in PNG would be an opportunity for all businesses to work together in achieving some of PNG’s goals. 

“The hosting of APEC will give you, business in Papua New Guinea, the unique opportunity to rally and push forward several just do it things.

“One of the things that would be vital is getting your businesses to work with the Government and your civil societies to rally around a clear PNG vision as to what it is that you want to do for the future.

“And this of course must mean bringing SMEs in so you have those at the bottom rallying together without fighting it.

“Whether its bring more women into your boardrooms or higher management or building more long term value relationships with your suppliers  so they can access financing and invest for growth, supporting entrepreneurs, helping reduce bureaucracy with all these committed to eradication levels  of corruption and efficiency,” Ho said.