Govt adding spark to small businesses

THE government is investing in small-to-medium enterprise projects to help ordinary people become successful in business, says Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko.
“SME will make you work hard to become a proud and successful Papua New Guinean,” he said.
Tkatchenko said this on Friday during the ground-breaking ceremony for the K20 million 6-Mile market.
“The government is investing in SMEs for the economic empowerment of the people,” he said.
“We are giving you infrastructures like this new market to make you work, not to sit outside our office for us to give you money.
“We are giving you the infrastructures to make you become proud hardworking Papua New Guinean in a clean modern environment.
“SME is important because we can’t rely on gas, oil and copper forever. So we have to encourage SME so that small businessmen and women can pay tax to help our economy go forward.”
Tkatchenko, who is also the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Minister, said investing in SME was part of Apec’s agenda.
“APEC is all about empowering people economically. Apec is in November next year. And 8000 visitors will come to Port Moresby for Apec.”
Meanwhile National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said they planned to build new markets at Hohola, Tokarara, 9-Mile and Waikele at Gerehu Stage 5.
Moresby North East MP John Kaupa also attended the event.