New ways to drive businesses

  By ERIC BALARIA

INTERNET technology and innovation are the news ways that can empower businesses into driving the country’s economy forward, according to a prominent Asian businesswoman. 

Doris Magsaysay Ho (pictured), chief executive officer of one of Asia’s largest shipping company, A. Magsaysay Inc, and chairperson of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) 2015, said internet technology had become an essential tool for global trade for businesses in developing economies, especially through e-commerce.

“Internet and technology is already in peoples mind here in PNG so it’s just a matter of bringing it and enabling it in businesses and individual entrepreneurs to use and to be able to participate in global trade this way,” she said told a business breakfast yesterday.

“In a city like Port Moresby you might not have that problem but if look at communities outside how can they access global trade through the internet.

“More focus must be placed into bringing businesses and especially SMEs into the internet economy as that is the new way in this era used for sustaining business growth.”

Ho said innovation was an important aspect of the growth of business in internet technology and ABAC was looking to improve participation of business through online facilities.

“To be able to give people the capacity for that we are working on an online training course to 

facilitate SMEs all across the borders. 

“This is a key thing for women and for people with disabilities they’ll have the opportunity to work from home.

“Businesses must develop a full agenda around innovation and technology driven businesses are really the new ways to propel new areas of economic growth,” she said.