PNGWiB centre popular for trade

By Memo Hauke
THE PNG Women-in-Business trading centre at the Old Steamships Hardware in Waigani is becoming a popular shopping area in the capital city.
It opened during the PNGWiB Expo in September and features women-run businesses such as arts and crafts, tailoring designs and traditional cooked food.
Women with different talents have been brought together in one central area to sell items which they produce themselves or buy from overseas.
The women have instantly bonded and support one another.
“After all, we are here for five or six days a week and we spend a lot of time together,”  Rebecca Olwasi said.
Olwasi is a single mother of three, who sells items made from bilum.
“Before the expo, the PNGWiB business trainers went to women in Morata to teach them the basics of how to operate a business,” she said.
“They taught us that we have two hands that can do anything. We can plant flowers, make bilum, saw meri blouses or other business ideas.
“The team taught us for three weeks on how to operate businesses and take care of our families.
“I had no money at that time but I wanted to become a successful entrepreneur and look after my children.”
She remembers the day she went home and searched her room for wool to make bilum.
She couldn’t find any so she took out her three woolen coats and made her first bilum which she sold it at the expo.
“Since then I started my business and now I have customers buying my bilum and have clients who places orders for bilum and wool caps.
“I am very happy with the training the PNGWiB has given us and thankful to earn something for myself.”