Lae main market vendors partner UN Women to form association

VENDORS at Lae’s main market are looking to form a market vendors association, an official says.
Market coordinator Ben Maipa said they had partnered with the PNG United Nations Women under the Meri Project to establish the body.
He said UN Women conducted capacity building training with vendors in the lead up to the formation of the association.
“So far they’ve hosted two management trainings on financial literacy to build the vendors business confidence,” he said.
PNG UN Women’s Meri Project coordinator Joanne Ganoka said 80 per cent of the vendors were women and through the training and capacity building, they hoped to empower them.
Ganoka concluded the third training in Lae yesterday which was based on marketing as a business.
“We have two more trainings coming up – the second round of financial literacy training for vendors and a week-long training covering sewing and food packaging,” she said.
“But our ultimate aim at the end is to have an association established and running which is what we’ve been doing under the Meri project.” She said the initiative started in the National Capital District and was being introduced into 14 markets in 14 different provinces.
“We’re working with the market management and authorities to establish such so that individually when vendors face issues of violence either gender or sexual within or around the market and need a voice, they are empowered under the association to bring such issues up,” Ganoka said.
Maipa said Lae vendors had already established interim executives and a committee and constructed a draft constitution and structure.
The next step was to be registered with the Investment Promotion Authority.
“Over 300 vendors have already indicated interest,” Maipa said.