Market provides opportunity for women’s businesses

THE Motu-Koita market held in villages has seen women engaged in small businesses earning on average K500 to K600 on the market day, according to organisers.
This is an initiative of Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko and Pascoe Promotions to build a small business culture in those communities, create financial independence and empower their womenfolk.
The first two small to medium enterprise (SME) markets and cultural showcases were successfully held at Pari and Kila Kila villages with local women-owned SMEs taking home as much as K4,000 with the vendor making between K500 to K600 on the day.
The market will be held at the Vabukori village tomorrow which would see more than 100 women taking part to showcase and sell their locally-made products.
Apart from selling arts and crafts, the Vabukori villagers have arranged tours to the famous picnic island of Manubada, fishing trips with local fisherman and a beach barbecue.
Pascoe promotions director Sylvia Pascoe said all the activities were set to showcase the tourism potential with the traditional villages of Port Moresby, which had never been celebrated as much as they are now.
“These tourism products will continue to develop and grow the more they are seen and the small medium enterprises on show will grow as tourism to these villages grows,” she said.
Pascoe said there had already been much interest from local tourists.