Goroka hosts Apec officials at SME expo

By HELEN TARAWA
DELEGATES to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting visited a small-to-medium enterprise expo in Goroka on Tuesday to view local products.
The National Sports Institute was the venue for the expo held to coincide with the field trip organised by Apec management and Eastern Highlands government for the 16 delegates.
The stalls featured women groups, wine producers, coffee producers, florists, bilum makers and fruit and vegetable farmers.
Daisy Kiniafa, of the Goroka Women’s Floriculture Group, said they represented the province’s nine districts.
“We are happy that the Apec organisers put up the expo because we have been working to earn some income,” she said.
“Often times, our work does not receive much attention and there is a need to identify the markets out there.
“The expo has given us an opportunity to display our work to the delegates and we are grateful because we can sell our products.
“It is a way of recognising our work and the skills we have in flower arrangements.”
Eastern Highlands Women’s Arts and Craft Association vice-president Samuel Lulu said the expo was an opportunity for the women to sell their products, mainly bilum.
Lulu said the association had 221 members who were selling bilums to support their families.
He said they needed to export their products overseas.
“We would like more such events so we can help the women sell their products,” he said.
“We hope the delegates can also use this avenue to market our products in their countries.”