Smec aims to expand presence in rural areas

SMALL to Medium Enterprises Corporation (Smec) aims to expand its presence nationwide by partnering with rural-based non-government organisations.
Smec managing director Steven Maken said this was the basis for the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Oxfam International yesterday in Port Moresby.
The agreement is for three years with Smec meeting its officers’ costs and salaries, and Oxfam meeting the logistics side of conducting training.
“This is for communities and small cooperatives, especially for women and youths,” Maken said.
“The Smec has been quite keen on developing partnerships. We alone have been tasked by the Government to deliver a huge mandate of 500,000 SMEs by 2030.
“That is a daunting challenge.
“It is only through partnerships that we can make some inroads into achieving that target.
“Trying to do the work alone is not easy as it is quite an onerous responsibility, given our resource constraints.
“Our approach has always been to work with all of government, through a public-private partnership arrangement with development partners and civil society and non-government organisations.”
Maken said it was a privilege to work with an international NGO like Oxfam. “That is something we want to build and work onto to develop entrepreneurial skills training, particularly in Eastern Highlands Chimbu and Jiwaka,” he said.
“If we really want to have a broad-based economy with inclusive growth, that means we need to reach those remote communities in rural areas.
“Oxfam has been doing work on this and the signing today will have us come on board with our speciality in the areas they operate.”