US Embassy backs women business group

 THE US Embassy is supporting the recently-established Papua New Guinea Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PNGWCCI) to promote women entrepreneurs and leaders in PNG.

A weeklong workshop was held last week to give PNGWCCI’s interim board ideas in which they discussed the need to change the operating environment faced by local women.

Board members developed strategic plans and goals to help economically empower women during a training programme sponsored by the US Embassy and led by the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). 

CIPE is an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce that worked around the globe to promote private enterprise and market-oriented reform.

The workshop, which was the first in a two yearlong partnership between the PNGWCCI and CIPE, enabled the interim board and members to refine PNGWCCI’s vision, strategic objectives, and action plan.

During the workshop, PNGWCCI interim president Avia Koisen outlined the goals and missions of the PNGWCCI, saying: “PNGWCCI seeks to empower and strengthen women entrepreneurs and leaders by building capacity, creating business networking, advocating innovatively and creating wealth and prosperity in an enabling environment.”