SME sector empowering women

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THERE are more than 2,500 women registered in 44 associations in Moresby South as the electorate in Port Moresby looks to economic empowerment for its women.
Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko said the associations were a clear indication of the power women could wield when given the opportunity.
There are over 24,000 women in Moresby South, with many willing to start their associations to be part of the small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) assistance through the electorate, Tkatchenko said.
Moresby South technical and vocational education training coordinator and women association representative Rose Hagua said women were the driving force in a family and many a times, they were seen as less than men.
However, the SME movement, started by the National Government, has seen women come out of their homes and work towards being part of an association and working for financial empowerment.
The Government announced a K200 million SME assistance this year through Bank South Pacific and the National Development Bank.
“The Government, through its budgetary procedures, will partner and put money into the local financial institutions and make it accessible to SMEs to apply as loans to fund their businesses the market would promote the Government’s policy on driving SMEs to create employment and help women and men engage in income earning activities,” Prime Minister James Marape told the mothers at a market opening last Wednesday morning.
“When the mothers sell and make an income, it helps the family unit to create jobs for themselves and earn an income to pay for food, clothes and send their children to school and pay for basic healthcare and needs.”
Marape said the market would see women in Moresby-South have a secure and clean place to sell garden produce, which would be brought in by farmers outside of the city in bulk.