Porgera chamber receives K50,000 for local SMEs

By ELIAS LARI
THE Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperation (SMEC) has given K50,000 to the Porgera chamber of commerce and industry (PCCI) to help locals venture into business activities.
The cheque was presented to the PCCI in Mt Hagen on Monday by the National Development Bank (NDB) chairman Michael Yake Mell and SMEC acting managing director Patrick Ralda.
Ralda said SMEC was a big partner in development to help people in the village earn money and improve their lives.
He said the aim and vision was to look at supporting the eight million people of the country get involved in business activities.
Ralda said the K50,000 would help the people of Porgera maintain their lives after the mine ceased operation.
“Right now, we are seeing people depend on the mine, but, once it closes, people will feel the difference,” he said.
“This is why we are trying to help so they can maintain themselves by participating in the SME sector.”
Ralda also commended Mell for reviewing the SME Policy 1998 and developing the new policy (2016).
He said the rebuilding of the SME Act and its enactment had created opportunities for the people.
Mell described SMEs as the foundation for the people and the country to ensure a bright future.
He said SMEs would empower people and create wealth and strengthen the local economy.
“Despite facing so many challenges, you have to take this sector as the way forward,” Mell said. “If you have the money, you can live a peaceful life and SMEs are
all about creating money and wealth.”
PCCI president Nickson Pakea said this financial support would help address issues affecting the people. He said PCCI was working to address illegal mining, law and order and the K50,000 would be deposited into NDB for business purposes.