Innovation wins firms MSME awards

The National Business

Four local macro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) have been honoured with awards for using innovative technology in their services.
The MSME Digital Innovation Awards were supported by ExxonMobil PNG, the Institute of Banking and Business Management (IBBM) Enterprise Centre and the PNG Apec Business Advisory Council (Abac). The winners of the five categories were:

  • Emstret Holdings Limited (Origin Energy Small Innovative Enterprise Award and Nasfund People’s Choice Award);
  • Kumulsoft Limited (MiBank Micro Innovative Enterprise Award)
  • PNG Geospatial Solutions Limited (Kina Bank Medium Innovative Enterprise Award); and
  • Dinade Geospatial Limited (Westpac Women Owned Innovative Enterprise Award)

The winners will receive training provided by the IBBM Enterprise Centre to support future digital endeavours and strengthen their business governance, management and operations.
Abac PNG’s Stan Joyce said MSMEs drove the middle class in PNG and had the potential to improve the country’s economic position from good to great. He thanked ExxonMobil PNG for supporting the awards to support innovation and the commitment of the MSME sector.
Commerce and Industry Minister Wera Mori said PNG should look for opportunities in MSMEs to catch up with the rest of the world.
He said the government was trying to shift the economy away from being largely dependent on the extractive industry and by creating MSMEs opportunities in other sectors.
“We must ensure that there are enablers, whether it is in relevant government policies or other areas that can cultivate the growth in MSMEs,” Mori said.
ExxonMobil PNG managing director Andrew Barry said the company was committed to recognising and encouraging the growth of SMEs.
“Acknowledging businesses that utilise digital technology as part of their processes and services in Papua New Guinea is an important next step in encouraging digital inclusiveness,” he said.
“The digital innovation awards recognise and encourage SMEs to embrace technology and continue to grow in an ever-changing digital world.”