Leather craft gaining exposure on sidelines of Apec meet

PAPUA New Guinea’s leather craft is getting exposure on the sidelines of the Apec first senior officials meetings in Port Moresby this week.
Leather craft is under the State’s small and medium-sized enterprise initiative programme.
The Port Moresby-based business sells 100 per cent leather sandals, cowboy hats, belts and key chains.
SME Corporation marketing and sales officer Marie Kalogo said the leather was imported but the actual manufacturing and craftsmanship was done locally.
“Our own manpower and manufacture measures help display and sell our products, also giving an opportunity to our own Papua New Guineans to showcase a little piece of PNG flavour to visiting delegates,” she said.
“Leather is a promising product that will boost our economy and we have the manpower but lack the market. Apec is a potential pathway for the advancement of the leather industry for Papua New Guinea.”
She said Apec meetings provided the platform to expose small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Apec is a passage to the global market for Papua New Guineans.”