Papua New Guinea businesswomen off to China

Councillor Elizabeth Gonoua of Central (from left), Julie Keni of East Sepik, Sophie Kaupa of Chimbu, PNG Women in Business president Janet Sape, Lari Fareho of Port Moresby and vice president of the People’s Action Party Martha Kaia showing off their passports for a trip to the Shanghai 2010 world trade expo.

By BOSORINA ROBBY

FIVE Papua New Guinean businesswomen will be going to China to celebrate the country’s independence at the Shanghai 2010 world trade expo this weekend, The National reports.

The women, who are engaged in small to medium-sized businesses, were the winners of the PNG Women in Business (WIB) expo held in Lae earlier this year.

The trip to Shanghai was one of the incentives of WiB.

The women are Kuni/Mekeo councilor Elizabeth Gonoua, who is a rubber farmer; Julie Keni, a guest house proprietor in East Sepik; Sophie Kaupa, a tailor with branches in Lae and Chimbu; Lari Fareho, a local jeweller in Port Moresby; and bilum wear specialist Florence Jaukae. 

In a small ceremony yesterday, PNG WiB president Janet Sape thanked the women and their families for their commitment to support the organisation which aims to equip mothers who are venturing into small businesses.

Sape said many women in PNG were very skilled but did not have anywhere to go to further their skills and market to expose their products.

She had encouraged all interested women to visit the PNG WiB office at the DCI Textile building at Gordon to know more about how they can participate in moving PNG forward through their own business ventures.

She also acknowledged Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabriel Kapris and his department for supporting this incentive and assisting to set up WiB and sponsoring the trip.

The women were presented with their passport by People’s Action Party vice-president Martha Kaia, on behalf of Kapris.