Small city businessmen seek skills training

By BOSORINA ROBBY
THE Pacific Business Mentor Programme in PNG has found Port Moresby to be a challenge with many small businesses wanting to get skills training and support to manage and develop their businesses.
Since its launch last year, more than 40 small businesses had been selected to participate, outgoing Pacific Support manager Ian Furlong said yesterday at the Ela Beach Hotel  in Port Moresby.
He said for PNG, the response was so overwhelming that another group was created instead of the usual one group per country, resulting in 40 instead of the usual 20 participants.
“So we now have two groups of five mentors and two trainers in the country every three months.
“The first group that signed up is now receiving training after their mentoring sessions while the second group are undergoing the mentoring session.
“After the three months, they will begin their training session while the first group will move on to the next level and so on.
“But we are now looking for the next group by April for the next part of the plan,” he said.
Yesterday, the first group of participants in this programme received training from Chris Elphick and Ash Dixon, both mentors and trainers in the programme as well as outside, on basic business planning.
John Helsdon, who would be taking over from Furlong, stressed that the kind of support given by the mentors and trainers included a basic understanding of making business, financial and marketing plans and sticking to them.
He said this was the issue where many small businesses face because they did not get the type of help they needed.
Furlong said the programme would be going nationwide but needed to be properly established in Port Moresby.
“This is where the chamber has come in and being very helpful to us. Their assistance has been invaluable,” he said.
The programme was funded by the New Zealand government aid programme and supported by the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the local agent.
It is free and aimed at supporting the small businesses acquire skills to help them grow.
POMCCI chief executive officer David Conn had announced a public presentation of this programme tomorrow for interested small businesses to attend at the POMCCI office in Port Moresby.
More information can be found on www.businessmentorspacific.org.nz or from the POMCCI office.