Textile course ends

By URSULA-JANE BOGG
UPNG journalism student
CURTAIN designing, garment construction, screen printing, small business management and hand sewing machine repair are the five programmes that saw six women graduate last Friday in Port Moresby.
The four-month garment and textile training programme was held at the women and textile training centre, a unit of small industries centre at the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) in Gordon, Port Moresby.
Guest speaker, Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru encouraged the six graduates to think about owning businesses.
He said the SBDC must involve business training to make it a one-stop shop for everything.
The programme’s 19th graduation is the first graduation under the new SBDC management.
SBDC acting managing director Henry Marasembi said before the training, they hired outside people to complement their work in the ministry but they would not need to do that anymore.
On behalf of the participants, Mary Sumale said SBDC had recognised the women’s potential and would continue to support more women to engage in small businesses.
Kila Naines, a self-sponsored participant, graduated with flying colours, receiving four of the five awards – curtain design (1st), garment construction (2nd), small business management (most improved) and hand sewing machine repair (most improved).
“I am just a stay-at-home mum who sells buai, flex cards and little stuff at home to make a living.
“But now I can do a lot of things.”