Give PNG businessmen and women a chance, says ex-envoy

FORMER ambassador Aiwa Olmi says commercial banks, small-to-medium enterprise (SME) authorities and the Government must make funds easy to access for local entrepreneurs.
Olmi in a keynote address during the opening of an office last week encouraged Papua New Guineans to continue to be involved in the country’s economic sector through owning and running businesses.
“I have travelled far and wide in my time as an ambassador, serving and advertising my country to the world, and one thing I came to realise was the importance of small businesses and the important role they play in an economy,” he said.
“Any big company that you see today still needs cleaners, guards, designers, mechanics and so on.
“SMEs will continue to thrive no matter which age whether AI (artificial intelligence), computer or industrial, we’re in. SMEs will always be relevant and I encourage our entrepreneurs to continue strive to find marketing and business niches in those new opportunities that are presented before us and continue to contribute to the national economy,” Olmi said.
He added that authorities which were in charge of registering small businesses and commercial banks must not deny local entrepreneurs, but rather support them to grow.
“I have been witness to this a few times. Our local business men and women stand in long queues, getting their papers rejected or declined, funding delayed, and many are over taxed.
“We can only empower ourselves, but if we deny a local, you are only denying PNG.”
Olmi, who is also the board chairman of Water PNG Ltd, said this when opening the new head office of Koli Security Solutions, a nationally-owned firm.