More than 200 women register for night market

MORE than 200 women in the National Capital District (NCD) have registered to display and sell their products at the Niu Pasin SME night market at Sea Park Bazaar, Ela Beach.
National Capital District Commission (NCDC) gender officer Kay Kaugla told The National that the commission under the leadership of Governor Powes Parkop created that as a venue for women who had no space to come together, display their skills, talents, knowledge and sell their products and earn an income.
“We want women to do things like this so they grow their little business into SMEs (small medium enterprises),” Kaugla said.
“SME is something that you have to be committed to in order to make it grow so you transit from little income – generating activities into SME where you formally register your business.
“These are some of the things that NCDC is doing under the leadership of the governor; creating space for women; both working class and home managers, to come here and sell their products.
“At the same time, we want to tell Port Moresby residents that out here at Sea Park Bazaar, it’s alright for you to come and do your night activities.”
Kaugla said the bazaar was free of charge and the registration had gone up to nearly 250 but there was a lot of space still available.
She noted that women who registered needed to have a tent, table and chair.
“We don’t want to see our women sitting on the ground and under the umbrella.
“We want to elevate our way of marketing.”
Kaugla said that plans were placed to invite the Investment Promotion Authority, Internal Revenue Commission and the financial institutions to set up at the market to enable the women to have easy access to the services provided by those organisations.
“Women go through a lot of challenges, but when they are financially empowered, these problems are nothing and this is one way of addressing these problems.”
She said the market started during independence celebrations and the response from the women were positive hence it continued.
Kaugla said the programme would continue until December.