Small businesses trained to make products ‘tourist friendly’

Small businessowners have been trained to better understand quarantine requirements to make their products “tourist friendly”.
The training was done through a partnership between the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (Phama) programme, an Australian government initiative, and the Apec Coordination Authority.
More than 40 participants took part. Training sessions covered bio-security laws and quarantine requirements at Australian and New Zealand borders.
The workshop was held to make businessowners understand the quarantine requirements for delegates and tourists visiting for the Apec meetings.
More than 10,000 Apec delegates from 20 different member economies are expected to visit Papua New Guinea for the third senior officials’ meeting (SOM3) in August.
These many visitors will give handicraft sellers and small businesses a chance to sell their products.
During the workshop, participants were guided through the Phama PNG handicrafts vendor guide and engaged in interactive activities including the inspection of baskets, bilums and wooden artifacts.
Gilbert Woimba operates MAS APMA Carvers, a small business that creates traditional storyboards and wooden carvings, and which recently started exporting.
He said the training was an opportunity to fully understand bio-security laws and quarantine requirements.
“This training has given me more ideas,” Woimba said.
“It has allowed me to understand best practices when taking my products abroad, to ensure that there is a lower risk of my products being rejected at quarantine borders.
“It has also allowed me to understand what products will sell best to visiting Apec delegates and tourists.”