Growing MSMEs is Growing PNG!

SUCCESS STORIES

Barbara Yegiora – Successful Business Women

SMEC's entrepreneurship training program at ward level up is proving to be successful

In 2021, the Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation (SMEC) trained and certified a total of 209 public servants in the economic sector divisions in the Provincial Administrations, District Development Authorities and Local Level Government offices.

The 209 certified trainers are now delivering entrepreneurship training throughout the 6,112 wards in PNG through the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training program.

The nationwide TOT rollout projects was a key impact projects among other key policy and legislative reforms the Board and Management of SMEC initiated in 2020 and 2021 to support and deliver on the Marape Government’s vision to develop and grow the MSME sector.

Real Life Cases

Case Studies

I am Barbara Yegiora, a retired secondary school teacher.

" 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.

XANA’S BRAIDING STUDIO

In 2020, many people were laid off from work as the Corona virus had hit hard in the country. Xana Voyorite from Eastern Highlands was one of those people who got laid off from her formal employment with Nature Park as the Conservation Educator. She returned home to Goroka and reminded herself that she will not work for other people but will be her own boss. Xana took the opportunity and attended SME Corporation’s Improve Your Business (IYB) Entrepreneurship training facilitated by Jabez Business Services that same year. She attended the IYB Entrepreneurship training as she already had attended the SME Corporation’s Start Your Business or SYB Entrepreneurship training in 2018. After the IYB training she was motivated to go back to business as she has learnt important lessons during the two weeks Improve Your Business Entrepreneurship Training. “I realized my mistakes, things I should have done and things I should have not done.” The important lesson Iearnt are the 5 pieces in marketing.” Since Xana, has the hobby of braiding different hair styles, she decided to start her business using her hobby. She now owns the Xana’s Braiding Studio in Goroka town. Apart from her main business of braiding different hair styles, she also sells different hair products. She also assists local mothers by purchasing bilums from them and re-selling them at her shop. Xana employs young ladies who can braid to assist her in her business. This year 2025 will be fifth year for Xana’s Braiding Studio to be in operation. Her business is a registered one with the Investment Promotion Authority and the Internal Revenue Commission

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".

JOMIGU INTEGRATED FARM

55-year-old Priscilla Neke is an elementary school teacher in her home district in Ungai/Bena, Eastern Highlands Province. In August of 2023, Priscilla attended SME Corporation’s Start Your Business (SYB)Entrepreneurship Training at the Ketarobo SDA Church. The two weeks Entrepreneurship training motivated Priscilla in a way that it changed her mindset to not wait for her fortnightly salary only instead venture into small business activities to generate income for herself and her family. With the motivation from the training, she went to the BSP bank in Goroka and applied for a K16,000 loan which was approved. By October 2023, she used the money to build a poultry and purchased two cartons of layers. Disaster struck in early 2024 where the nearby creek burst its banks and flood swept away seventy – eight of her chicken layers. She was so worried as she just started her business Jomigu Integrated Farm and worst of all she is still repaying her loan from the BSP bank. But a good Samaritan came to Priscilla’s rescue with seven (7) chicken layers adding to the twenty-seven (27) left from the disaster, in total she has thirty-five (35) chicken layers. She didn’t give up that easily, rebuilt what was destroyed and continued looking after her chicken layers. Now she sells fresh eggs every day. “Long wanpla dei, ol kakaruk sa givim mi 30pla egg na mi save salim K1 long wanpla. Yu taimsim 30 wantaim 7 em bai yu save lo amas mi save kisim insait long wanpla week taim mi salim egg. Insait long displa training mipla kisim, em mipla kisim training blong how long lukautim money na how blong spendim money tu.” But then as Priscilla continues with her poultry business, she was faced with another challenge and that is to buy layers feed weekly to feed the chicken layers. She then came up with another business idea, setting up a table doing sales of basic food items to help her with the weekly purchase of layers feed. She employed two assistants to help her with the poultry and Priscilla has registered Jomigu Integrated Farm with the Investment Promotion Authority and the Internal Revenue Commission.

HIPA TRADING

If you are new to Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, you will not know where the Hipa Trading is located. But for those who know the place will say it is located at North Goroka. Yes, Hipa Trading now serves the residents as well as students attending the University of Goroka with their daily needs. It not only provides retail business but also a bakery and a “kaibar. The business has another kaibar in the heart of Goroka Town as well. This all started from a poultry business by Betty Gaige who is now in her early 50s. After attending SME Corporation’s Start Your Business or SYB Entrepreneurship Training in 2015 facilitated by Jabez Business Services she decided venture into the retail business. Betty said “mi lainim planti samting lo bisnis olsem savings culture, time management na planti narapla ol samting.” From the money she made from her poultry business, she decided to save the money with BSP and after a year, her application was successful to get a loan of K12, 000 where she purchased some cargoes for a trade store. And that’s how Hipa Trading came into existence. Because of her good records with the BSP Bank in loan repayment, she was successful with another loan in 2020 which she extended her business with a bakery. Recently, she opened her kaibar in the heart of Goroka Town. Betty employs 27 young people in her business and she is very proud of herself for providing that employment opportunity to young people. Hipa Trading is a registered business entity with the Investment Promotion Authority and the Internal Revenue Commission.