SMEs finalizing master plan, policy

 By DOROTHY MARK

THE small business enterprise is finalising the formulation of its master plan and policy.

A workshop on small-to-medium enterprises for the four regions started in Madang on Sunday.

Minister for Commerce Trade and Industry Richard Maru officially opened the workshop.

Provincial heads of the commerce divisions in the Highlands and Mamose regions presented their views on how SME goals and visions would be captured in their line of duties.

It was identified that SMEs should be started in LLGs, then districts and to provincial levels.

Secretary for the Department of Commerce and Industry John Andrias said: “This workshop is to validate and consolidate data from certain institutional bodies invited to form the master plan and policy for SME.”

He said PNG SMEs contributed less than 10% to the country’s economy while big companies contributed more than 90%.

“SMEs need to be properly documented with all provinces to come up with their SME plans,” Andrias said.

He said PNG had 49,000 SMEs and the current government was urging that 500,000 new SMEs must be developed, which would create jobs for two million people by 2030.

“This is the bottom up planning for all provinces on what they are capable of doing and what  they are not,” Andrias said.

Gabriel Mapa, director for K1 Healthy Living and Microfinance Services representing Western Highlands, said SMEs should become compulsory business arms of LLGS.

“Business needs in each ward and record to inform ward development plans should be properly identified and documented,” Mapa said.

He said LLG administration must also develop monitoring and reporting system for SMEs with support from the business development officers on the ground.

The Transport Department, PNG Ports, Water PNG, PNG Power and Telikom PNG also gave presentations on where they would contribute to SMEs and where SMEs would fit into their operations.