NDB reaching businesses with new office in Maprik

THE National Development Bank (NDB) group has opened a new Maprik branch to reach more small businesses in East Sepik.
NDB acting managing director Aaron Underdown said the bank was all about people.
“It’s about sustainability, to provide an opportunity for the people to improve their living standards for families and the community,” he said.
NDB Maprik branch manager John Mundi said the new office would look after customers from within the Central Sepik as well as the nearby villages and districts.
The Central Sepik area covers Ambunti-Dreikikier, Maprik, Wosera-Gawi and Yangoru-Saussia and could serve Nuku-Lumi in neighbouring West Sepik.
On a daily basis, the branch receives about 50 customers that includes both existing and new ones.
The customers were mostly villagers that were engaged in small and medium income generating agricultural activities.
Many of them were cocoa and vanilla growers.
Chairman of the NDB-group (NDB and PMBL) Michael Mell acknowledged the assistance from the office of the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock and Member for Maprik John Simon and stakeholders for the assistance in establishing the branch. Prime Minister James Marape, who was there to witness the opening, challenged the local people to use the land wisely for income generating activities to better their living standards.
“If you are a landowner, you must do business on your own land,” he said.
“If you get money from your cash crops like cocoa, vanilla and cocoa, save it and do business with it.”