The Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation (SMEC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kerowagi District Development Authority (KDDA) to deliver entrepreneurship training and business development services in Kerowagi District in the Simbu Province Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
The partnership aims to empower local entrepreneurs, foster sustainable economic growth, and build a vibrant business relation within the district.
The addition of Kerowagi District is another milestone in the Corporation’s mission to enhance the capacity of entrepreneurs at the district level, SMEC said in a statement.
The MOU, signed on November 14, 2024, marks a key step in the Government’s priority of supporting the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Papua New Guinea.
Since 2020, SME Corporation has been extending its SME Development Services to over 6,000 wards across the country, signing partnerships with several districts, including Tambul/Nebilyer, Imbonngu, and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Government.
The new partnership with KDDA focuses on equipping entrepreneurs in Kerowagi with the skills, resources, and support to successfully grow and manage their businesses, such as:
- Delivering specialized entrepreneurship training programs.
- Providing ongoing business development services, such as mentorship and advisory support.
- Facilitating access to financial resources and broader market opportunities.
- Promoting sustainable economic development across the district.
The programs cover skills such as business planning, financial management, marketing, and customer service, tailored to suit the unique needs of Kerowagi's local entrepreneurs, ensuring practical, relevant education that can be at once applied to their businesses.
Additionally, both the KDDA and SME Corporation will collaborate on business development services, helping entrepreneurs manage regulatory requirements and access funding opportunities.
The partnership will also organize networking events, trade fairs, and business forums to connect local entrepreneurs with potential markets both within and outside of the district.
SME Corporation’s acting Managing Director, Mr. Petrus Ralda, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of a bottom-up approach to entrepreneurship development.
He said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Kerowagi District Development Authority to empower local entrepreneurs and drive economic growth in Kerowagi District. This is where we must start—at the grassroots level, working directly with the people to change their lives and improve their livelihoods.”
The partnership will benefit entrepreneurs across several local-level governments (LLGs) within the district, including Kerowagi Urban, Upper/Lower Koronigle, Gena Waugla, and Kup LLGs.
Hon. Win Bakri Daki, Minister for Commerce, Industry, and Member for Tambul/Nebilyer, who signed on behalf of SME Corporation, urged citizens to embrace hard work and discipline in their economic pursuits.
“Don’t be lazy; you must go back to your village, work the land, and build from there. Discipline yourself when you have money, and use it to create lasting value,” he said.
Kerowagi's Member of Parliament, Hon. Francis Kikin Siune, also welcomed the collaboration, which represents a major step forward for the district's entrepreneurial ambitions.
“This collaboration with SME Corporation is a step forward in our efforts to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kerowagi District. We are confident that the training programs and business development services will have a lasting positive impact on our communities,” said Siune.
The MOU reflects a shared vision between SME Corporation and the Kerowagi District Development Authority to foster entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development.
Both organizations are committed to creating an environment where local businesses can thrive and contribute to the overall prosperity of the region.
As part of the ongoing efforts to monitor and evaluate the impact of the programs, both parties will set up a robust framework to assess progress and make improvements where necessary.
This partnership aims to bring lasting benefits to the people of Kerowagi, strengthening local businesses and contributing to the broader goal of economic development in Papua New Guinea.
The SMEC is actively contributing to one of the Government’s key priorities, the MSME Development in the country, by implementing the SME Policy 2016 through a bottom-up approach that involves working closely with local stakeholders, provincial governments, district development authorities, and local-level governments.
