"Growing MSMEs Is Growing PNG!"

MD's Corner

W.

MD's Brief

"It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to SME Corporation’s website as this project is a milestone achievement for the organization."

In this time and era where technology has advanced, SME Corporation has to keep up with this change. In line with its policy and legislative reforms, the Board and Management of SME Corporation initiated the website project in 2021.

The Website and MSME Database Projects are among other key development projects that the Board and Management of SME Corporation undertook which is in line with the SME Policy of 2016 on Information Media and Technology. Despite the challenges faced by the SMEC’s ICT Team, they did successfully deliver the Website Project which is now in operation. The website also acts as an information storage. It is the virtual face of SME Corporation where one seeks information from to know more on the programs, projects and services that the organization provides. It also helps gives exact direction to our office in terms of physical infrastructure. The website is user friendly where one can easily have access to information regarding SME Corporation. Another major impact project that the Board and Management of SME Corporation is embarking on is a reliable database for MSMEs which is presently lacking in PNG. The MSME database will also be captured in the website once finalized and completed. In its endeavour to modernize its ICT services, the SME Corporation is investing in reliable ICT services and infrastructure. The website project now compliments the work SME Corporation has done so far to its ICT Services.

The completed ICT infrastructure setups include; installations of FortiGate 80 Firewall Series for network protection and data security, and connecting and linking of all SME Corporation units and sites including Small Industry Centre or SIC, and the Women Enterprises Development Centre or WEDC formerly as the Garment Textile and Training Centre or GTTC to the Main Server hosted in the new Head Office. From September 2022, under my leadership as the Managing Director together with the support of the Board under the chairmanship of Mr. John Pora, SME Corporation managed to achieve its goals in the delivery of planned programs and activities despite challenges.

Highlights

Memorandum of Agreement

Between Jiwak Provincial Government and SME Corporation for the joint development of Highlands Regional MSMEBusiness Incubation Centre in Minj, Jiwaka Province

Memorandum of Understanding

Between SME Corporation and Tambul Nebilyer District Development Authority and the office of the member for Tambul-Nebilyer District

Momerandum of Understanding

Between SME Corporation and Save the Children to develop youth entrepreneuship development programs to encourage and support youth venture into MSME sector

Memorandum of Agreement

Between Jiwak Provincial Government and SME Corporation for the joint development of Highlands Regional MSMEBusiness Incubation Centre in Minj, Jiwaka Province

Memorandum of Understanding

Between SME Corporation and Tambul Nebilyer District Development Authority and the office of the member for Tambul-Nebilyer District

Momerandum of Understanding

Between SME Corporation and Save the Children to develop youth entrepreneuship development programs to encourage and support youth venture into MSME sector

Memorandum of Understanding

Between SME Corporation and National Youth Development Authority of Papua New Guinea to promote and empower youth entrepreneurial development in PNG

Momerandum of Understanding

Between SME Corporation and Imbonggu District Development Authority on delivery of Entrepreneuship Training and the provision of business development services

Momerandum of Understanding

Upcoming MOU or/and MOA

MD'S .

THIRD SENIOT OFFICIALS MEETING

35 ACSIC CONFERENCE, MONGOLIA - 2023

The United States of America was the host economy of the 2023 APEC Meetings. The Third Senior Officials Meeting (SOM3) was held in Seattle, USA. APEC Meetings attended;

1. 56th SME Working Group Meeting (SMEWG).

2. High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy Forum and SME Ministerial Meeting Joint Session

3. 29th SME Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM)

Papua New Guinea’s attendance and participation at the 56th SME Working Group Meeting, 29th SME Ministerial Meeting and Women and the Economy Forum and SME Ministerial joint sessions was important to foster the relationship with other APEC economies on SME development. The key discussions work towards fostering an environment that supports not only economic growth but also considers social and environmental aspects, promoting green and innovative MSMEs. The focus was on the three priority areas; Interconnected, Innovative, and Inclusiveness.

Interconnected: Building a resilient and interconnected region that advances broad based economic prosperity trade, there were advance discussions under APEC’s Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) Agenda to exchange best practices in bilateral and regional trade agreements. The discussions emphasized the significance of digital tools and technologies for SME growth. Economies should focus on enabling MSMEs to adopt digital solutions, participate in e-commerce, and leverage global value chains to enhance competitiveness.

Innovative: Enabling an innovative environment for a sustainable future. In terms of SME development, this is important specifically agriculture biotechnology, and international trade standards.

Inclusive: It is essential to promote and support women’s entrepreneurship, ensuring they have equal access to resources, opportunities, and representation. Promote gender equity across work streams. Apply gender lens to policy areas such as agriculture, customs, e-commerce, infrastructure, energy, climate resilience, structural reform, services, trade, MSMEs.