Local SMEs gaining Apec exposure

By MARK HAIHUIE
LOCAL small-to-medium enterprise owners are gaining exposure at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s first senior officials’ meeting this week in Port Moresby.
They have been displaying their products at several meeting venues to provide foreign delegates a taste of PNG.
Tapioca Delight director Ginia Sialis, who has a booth at the Laguna Hotel, says it had been a learning experience after talking about her products and business.
“I run this business with my husband and we have been in operation for the past six years,” she said.
“We will be here for the next three days and it has been an incredible experience to say the least.
“The main thing about this is being exposed to an international audience. Not just that but also business delegates.
“It’s my first time to be in this type of setting. I have showcased my business before but the environment was casual and laid back compared to this.
“It has been a real learning experience because of that. I am adjusting myself to the crowd to be more factual and communicate efficiently in a short time.”
She said she got her chocolate and ingredients from local sources and she explained that to the delegates.
“The tapioca cakes were sold out yesterday. They were interested, especially, the Asian delegates because they had something similar,” Sialis said.
“The whole experience has been great because of the exposure and, of course, networking with others here as well.”