Entrepreneur sees networking as key to boosting business

NETWORKING among small and medium enterprises has the capacity to drive businesses to growth and success, says an entrepreneur in Lae.
PNG on Demand marketing and ads coordinator Robert Kopana said Lae was the industrial hub and many small businesses were booming. But the missing link in growth and expansion was something many needed to know.
Kopana said networking, advertising and marketing, mentoring and development and securing an affordable space for starting the business were things that helped SMEs grow. PNG on Demand is helping in this regard.
“SME operators need to know each other and give business to each other so that will enhance the possibility of them growing,” he said.
“Ninety per cent of SMEs here in Lae are operating out of their homes because they cannot be able to afford fees given in prime locations in town.”
In a meeting organised last week, more than 100 SMEs showed their interests behind networking and working in partnership.
Kopana is extending invitation to agricultural SMEs in and around Morobe to join in and be recognised in the type of businesses each is engaged in.
BSP SME centre manager Richard La’a said the initiative being led by PNG on Demand and Tokstret Ltd was good and timely.
“We will work in with PNG on Demand and Tokstret to try to reach out to the unbanked especially the SMEs in Lae and other parts of Morobe.”