Women landowners aim to start businesses

WOMEN landowners from the Kurumbukari mine in Usino-Bindi, Madang, are aiming to establish businesses.
Kurumbukari (KBK) Women’s Association chairman Jaclyn Tigavu said they had watched women’s group from other mining, oil, petroleum and gas areas in the country go on to own and operate companies and wanted to do the same.
“We have bought a truck from the K500,000 royalty paid last year by Ramu NiCo. The truck is currently engaged in active business operation and generating income,” she said.
“We have sufficient money in the association’s bank account from the royalty paid and are looking at expanding our business operations, both within the Ramu NiCo project impacted area and outside.”
Tigavu said the three priority business areas they were looking into were transport, agriculture (livestock) and wholesale. “We are looking for joint venture partners now, preferably women’s groups from other mining, oil and gas project areas so we can partner, share resources and ideas so together we can benefit,” she said.
Tigavu said the association represented more then 10,000 women from clans including Maure, Imuruba, Nakomboi, Pagaizi and those in the water easement and road easement areas of the special mining lease area in the Bundi local level government.
“Ours is the organisation that represents all women, girls and future female generations who are traditionally marginalised in PNG’s patrilineal Melanesian clan system.”
Tigavu and her executives took the opportunity to thank Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), the gender desk for recognising them by working closely to ensure the association was successful for the benefit of women in the mine area.