"Growing MSMEs is Growing PNG!"
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Success stories for
Reaching the unreached through the bottom-up approach from ward level up
Barbara Yegiora
WARA SIMBU RIVERSIDE RESORT
" I started my business in 2009. My passion was in cooking food which led me to start up a catering business. I the eventually progressed into Guest-Huas business. I attend the SYB Training in 2010. The program greatly helped together with the continuous couching from late Maria Kalap which
helped me to successfully secured a bank loan from NDB and established my resort business now known as Wara Simbu Riverside Resort. I at times faced with challenges and struggles due to cash flow problem in Simbu province but with sheer determination and perseverance, I put into practise what I acquired from the training which helped the business to survive the test of time to date.
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.
Saina Nelson
PAPATO BUS SERVICE
Meet Saina Nelson 45 years old from Yagaria Local Level Government in Lufa District of Eastern Highlands Province. Her story is of resilience and hard work. After she was certified by the SME Corporation then Small Business Development Corporation or SBDC in 2000 after the completion of the two weeks Start Your Business Entrepreneurship training, she did not start her business at that time as she
did not have any start-up capital. Saina did not give up that easily, with the skills gained from the 2 weeks training she struggled through working hard to save enough money to start her business. After 7 years, in 2007, she started her poultry business with the support of her husband. From the sales of chicken, they were able to save enough to start a trade store in 2010. In that same year, the couple purchased a vehicle to assist with their daily operations. Later in the years that followed, Saina purchased another vehicle, a Hyundai. She later purchased a 25-seater coaster bus which she later sold off. In 2024, she purchased a 25-seater coaster bus named it Papato which is now transporting people along the Highlands Highway. A very proud Saina said “Bifo mi na man blo mi slip lo haus kunai, nau mitupla wokim permanent haus. Mitupla gat ol wokman, mitupla still lukautim kakaruk yet, trade store em ron yet na man blo mi baim gold. Displa training em wanpla gutpla training”.