"Growing MSMEs is Growing PNG!"
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Success stories for
Reaching the unreached through the bottom-up approach from ward level up
Joseph Pinogo
JAP TRADING
"I am a retire elementary school teacher. After 40 years of service, I retired in mid 2025. Toward the mid-year of 2025, I collected my retirement entitlements. " "I was referred to SME Corporation by one of my tribesman to go there and invest my money in a better ways to make more money".
Mr. Joseph Pinogo, a retired elementary school teacher is from Amoamo village in Mekeo, Central province. He came to SME Corporation’s head office at Gordons, Infinite Haus, around early August 2025. Mr. George Kalap attended to him. The first thing he was advised to do was to take on the Start Your Business Correspondence Course (SYBCC). After that, Mr. Kalap assisted him to have his trade store business name, JAP Trading, formalized.
With enough collateral/security in his account, Me. Kalap assisted him with business loan proposal to National Development Bank (NDB) to purchase an Isuzu Dyna. The loan application was lodged at NDB towards the end of October 2024. The loan application was successful in February 2025.
Now, the Isuzu Dyna is run as the PMV truck between Mekeo, Central province and Port Moresby, NCD.
Elizabeth Alice Ofoi
NASTUS FAM TRADING
Elizabeth Alice Ofoi was assisted to register her business called Nastus Fam Trading under the Business Formalization & Regulatory Support Services at SME Corporation. Her journey began with her participation in the SME Corporation’s Start Your Business – Micro Enterprise (SYB-ME) training in November 2021.
Her success story serves as an inspiration for individuals in the informal sector to formalize their businesses.
Prior to the training, Elizabeth used to buy repacked goods in Port Moresby and resell them in her village. She had ambitions to become a businesswoman but lacked the management skills and knowledge of going about business formalization.
“After attending the training, I am confident to say that this training is simple and easy to comprehend and complete. From this training, I am able to do book keeping, write proposals, business plans, cash flow and, manage my small business”.
Ms. Ofoi said she expanded her mini table market into a trade store, focusing on it for a year and a half (2022-2023). She saved her profits in her bank account with People’s Micro Bank Limited (PMBL).
In July 2023, she contacted one of her trainers George Kalap to assist her formalize her business under the Business Formalization & Regulatory Support Services at SME Corporation.
“In two weeks, I got my business name Nastus Fam Trading registered, obtained a TIN, created a business profile, and opened my business bank account with Kina Bank,” recalls Elizabeth.
Ms. Ofoi said towards the end of 2023, she was interested in accessing funds under the government’s Financing Partnership Agreement with NDB.
The training by SME Corporation assisted her to meet the loan requirements and her loan request for an Isuzu Dyna was approved and funded under the government’s MSME Credit Facility with NDB using SME Corporation’s certificate as a prerequisite.
Joan Malai
3BEE TRADING
Meet Joan Malai, 46 years old from Kerema Town of Gulf Province. Her story is of resilience and hard work. In March 2025, she visited the SME Corporation office to seek help in terms of business development services (BDS). She was advised to take the Start Your Business Correspondence Course (SYBCC).
She registered and took the course. After she was certified by the SME Corporation then Small Business Development Corporation through the SYBCC program in late March 2025, she stated in her business plan that she would like to purchase an Isuzu Truck at Boroko Motors.
With enough equity, Mrs. Malai’s business loan application to NDB was successful in April 2025 and she took out her truck. The truck now helps her in her Retail & Wholesale business in Kerema town and also operate as PMV truck on route 600 – Trans Highway, between Gulf province and Port Moresby.
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Frequently Asked Questions
SME Corporation is a government Agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and responsible for the MSME growth and development in Papua New Guinea (PNG) through various programs and projects.
There are two methods SME Entrepreneurship training is delivered.
- Flexible mode,
- Cluster groups;
- out of school to general MSMEs in an organized group.
- in school delivers to TVET and secondary schools.
To take part in the training provided by SME Corporation write to SME Corporation and express interest or enquire for more information.
The K200 million SME funds funded by government, K100 million was given to BSP and K80 million was given to NDB.
BSP services its existing SMEs whilst NDB disburse loans to both existing and start-ups. All MSMEs are encouraged to enquire at BSP and NDB for more information.
The difference between Business Name (BN) and Company is that Business Name is a Sole Proprietor (Individual). It is simple to start, less expensive and more suitable for micro businesses. A BN is selected when carrying on a business under a name, no legal entity is created and there is no limitation on liability.
The Company Name is selected upon incorporation and creates a special legal entity, distinct from its owners.
Business Registration is done at Investment Promotion Authority (IPA)
After IPA registration, then register TIN with Internal Revenue Commission (IRC)