SMEC to conduct trainers’ training

Business

By PETER ESILA
THE Small to Medium Enterprise Corporation (SMEC) will conduct training for about 200 trainers to meet the demands of a rising micro SME sector, says managing director Petrus Ralda.
During the launching of the programme in Port Moresby on Tuesday, Ralda called on Government stakeholders to become part of the programme.
“This is a chance for us to review what we have done over the years,” he said.
“The business environment has changed, also in terms of accessing funds, the banks, Government intervention in terms of the K200 million.
“We have to create an environment that is low risk, and give confidence to the banks.
“This programme is to create an environment of confidence, lowering the risk of banks and giving confidence to the banks that these MSMEs have been certified and trained, and we are processing them through to the banks to give approval.”
Ralda said the SMEC would partner with the provincial governments, district development authorities, local level governments in a bottom-up approach.
The first two weeks training will be for the New Guinea Islands region to be held in Buka and Kokopo from Monday.
This will be followed by Mt Hagen and Kundiawa for the Highlands, Lae and Vanimo for Momase and Central and Port Moresby for Southern.
SMEC chairman John Pora said this was an exciting time for the MSMEs.
“This year we will ensure greater accessibility for MSMEs to receive financial literacy training,” he said.
The SMEC has 180 network training partners, 154 certified trainers and 23 licensed trainers. It has trained more than a 100,000 MSMEs.