Innovation and technology to sustain SMEs amid global crisis

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

 

Singapore, 26 May 2009 – The little guys always get hit the hardest, or so says conventional wisdom.  But, according to some experts: It doesn’t have to be that way anymore.

An APEC seminar featuring speakers from Microsoft, Dell Global, Intel Asia, eBay/Paypal and other corporate legends will explore ways for SMEs to actually take advantage of the precarious times that have brought many of the world’s most established players to their knees. 

“The time is ideal for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of both advances in information technology and the drastic reduction in costs,” insists Michael Mudd, Comp TIA Director of Public Policy, Asia-Pacific.

Mudd explains that: “Ten years ago, Google moved out of a garage to a small office and had just eight employees; eBay was a domestic US classified ad service; five years ago Facebook and Myspace did not exist; two years ago Software as a service (SaaS) was virtually unknown. All of these advances hold out a promise for the SMEs that are creative enough to use them.  We need to listen to what is happening globally and design a relevant program with inputs from Government, Academia and Industry.”

The APEC SME Technology Entrepreneur Seminar, held on the cusp of APEC SME Working Group meetings, will take place in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, 3 – 5 June, at the KLCC Hotel and Spa.

The global economic crisis is an important factor.  Discussions will address the central theme, Innovation and Technology – The Sustaining Power of SMES in the Global Economic Crisis, and much debate is anticipated.

 

To learn more about the SME Working Group, go to:

http://www.apec.org/apec/apec_groups/som_committee_on_economic/working_groups/small_and_medium_enterprises.html

 

Media wishing to register for the seminar should contact:

Amril Norman at amril@smidec.gov.my with copy to nursuhada@smidec.gov.my

 

For other inquiries, contact:

Carolyn Williams at cdw@apec.org or at (65) 9617 7316

Anita Douglas at ad@apec.org or at (65) 9172 6427

 

 

 

LNG agreement heralds the start of building boom in PNG

Signboard at GordonSignboard at Four-Mile

Passersby at the fenced-in building site at Four-Mile

HG Construction crane reaches for the sky at Gordon

Fenced-in buiding area at Four-Mile with Garden City in the background

Datec, part of the Steamships Group, will have its new Super Store at Gordon

A rear view of Steamships' commercial development at Gordon

The signing of the benefits sharing agreement (BSA) for the PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Kokopo at the weekend basically paves the way for the unprecedented building boom in the country to continue at a high level.
Building commentator George Tipping predicts that a much-larger building and property boom is the likely scenario if the Exxon Mobil LNG project is confirmed.
“Despite the internal impediments of higher interest rates, inflation, hesitation by some PNG investors due to the global economic conditions (GEC), slow NCDC and utility service providers approvals, it is my prediction that the current building and property boom will continue at a high level of activity, particularly for large projects,” he wrote in The National recently.
“How long will this boom last? That is the hard question to answer.
“My crystal ball suggests we have another three to four years before the boom slows to more-manageable levels.
“However, if the Exxon Mobil LNG project is confirmed, then we will have a scenario of a much larger building and property boom making the current boom seem small by comparison.”
One of the major players in the current building and property boom, especially in Port Moresby, is Steamships.
On the rear of the old Papuan Hotel site downtown, we can see the major high rise project for Steamships Properties (Fletcher Morobe) and we have seen the activities on the former Hornibrook site at Gordons also for Steamships (HG Constructions).
At Four-Mile, opposite Stargazers, Steamships has finished clearing up a piece of land and has started work on a major commercial development.
Steamships Property is renowned as one of the largest and most-dynamic property developers in PNG.
The company specialises in providing residential, commercial and industrial property, across the country.
From high covenant apartment accommodation in the heart of Port Moresby to commercial and industrial blocks near the Lae Port, Steamships Property has a substantial and diverse property portfolio.
This is certainly growing.

Finschhafen villagers chase looters from Asian shops

If you think Papua New Guineans are all that bad and anti-Asian, just read this story from The National, Papua New Guinea’s leading daily newspaper

 

VILLAGERS in Finschhafen last week rallied to the defence of two Asian traders.

Public servants from Finschhafen said at the weekend that the shops had been besieged last Thursday morning by several people described as “loafers and louts”.

They said the looters had followed in the path of those in Lae, Madang and Goroka.

Last Wednesday, when the “loafers and louts” had tried to steal from the two Chinese-run shops, police had mobilised from their station next door and stopped them, the public servants said.

Last Thursday morning, mobile squad police were dispatched from Lae when the “loafers and louts” tried again and besieged the shops.

The mobile squad arrived “just in the nick of time” to fire warning shots into the air, and dispersed the crowd, the public servants said.

When the looters tried to regroup, more than 500 villagers from Ngasingalatuc, Bugem, Gingala, Godoa, Kolem and Kamelawac entered the fray and chased the looters into bushes.

Police have not reported any arrests.

Many people said the two Chinese shops provided a wide range of goods and also served as a quasi-bank for the community.

There is no bank in Gagidu, the Finschhafen district headquarters.

As a result, public servants use the Eftpos system at the shops get cash.

“Otherwise, it’s a K100 return trip to the bank in Lae, and we can’t afford that,” a public servant said.

“And if these shops are not here, the schools would not be able to get food for their students on credit. “These Chinese are helping us.”

 

Paddy's Newsletter (please click to enlarge)

Rev Dr Wesley Kigasung is remembered…one year on

ELCPNG and PNG flags soar high at Rev Dr Kigasung's grave. Picture by LUTHERAN INFORMATION CENTRE

Rev Somi Setu from ELCPNG Papua District at the grave of Rev Dr Kigasung. Picture by LUTHERAN INFORMATION CENTRE

By BALUCK BONNIE
Lutheran Information Center

A year after his passing, late Bishop Chief Rt Rev Dr Wesley Kigasung’s demeanors, wisdom, kind words and exemplary life as a mentor and a humb1e leader of 1.2 million Lutheran followers in Papua New Guinea is remembered.
This is not only within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG, and throughout the country, but also by overseas partner churches in the USA, Australia, Germany, Canada and many more.
Uusually-sleepy Aluki village in Bukawa, Morobe province, sprang to life on Thursday, May 14 – first anniversary of Rev Dr Kigasung’s death – as the 17 ELCPNG district presidents, led by acting head bishop Rev Zau Rapa and general secretary Isaac Teo, joined people from Laulu Circuit in Jabem District.
Rev Rapa and Mr Teo unveiled the headstone.
Rev Zau Rapa described late Dr Kigasung as “selfless and a real role model”, who led by example, and whose good deeds and accomplishments had been written down in the hearts of many who knew him as a colleague and leader who would be remembered for a long time.
“Dr Kigasung was a man of unity,” he said.
“He lived by his words, bringing together people of different race, culture and ethnicity, using his vast experience and wealth of knowledge.
“Because of his hard work, we are now seeing all 17 districts of the church working in partnership with each other.”
Rev Rapa vividly remembers late Bishop Kingasung’s last words: “We should not waste time.
“We must continue to work hard regardless of whatever situations we are faced with.”
Using his predecessor’s pearls of wisdom, Rev Rapa urged the pastors, district presidents and office workers to work hard using their different gifts, skills, and knowledge for the glory of God.
“…department heads and staff should look forward and pray to God to give us another leader like late Dr Kigasung in the coming elections in 2010,” he said.

Lutheran missionaries meet in Lae

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church at Bumbu Police Barracks in Lae will host a missions’ awareness conference from Thursday May 28 till Sunday May 31.

The theme of the conference is: “Nau em taim bilong yumi …Bai mi mekim wanem (it is our time…what will I do)?”

According to Warime Guti of the Lutheran Information Centre at Ampo in Lae, this annual missions’ conference programme includes tesimonies and stories from former PNG Lutheran missionaries who have served with Operation Mobilisation, Youth With A Mission, and PNG World Missions.

“We also have speakers including missionaries Yoso Kui and Victoria Kui from Munum in the Markham Valley, who served in Sundan for nine years,” Mr Guti said.

“Other speakers include Mr Ninits Elafoan, Director, PNG World Missions Ms Tema Manko, and Pr Bapa Bomoteng.

“The purpose and the focus is:

• Bring awareness of local and overseas evangelism and missions to Lutheran congregation and the body of Christ in general; and
• Create awareness that the Lutheran Church has a great, rich heritage of mission history for evangelism work from the coast to the highlands of New Guinea from the 1920s to the 1970s.

“The challenge is: Can the Christians of today take up the evangelism and missions’ call and do something in this generation? In PNG as well as abroad?

“Missions and the evangelism fire should not only be kindled when mv Doulos or a crusade or a big-time evangelist is in town.

“It should be an on going church activity.

“That is the challenge OSLC is embarking on.”

For further information on the conference, please contact the missions’ coordinator at OSLC Missions on telephone (675) 4791110.

AusAID - Asian riots just a diversion?

From Paul Oates

The recent riots and focus on Asians in PNG have unfortunately diverted attention away from the AusAID debate. One could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the AusAID camp.

The debate over the cost of employing consultants to work for AusAID in PNG is unfortunately just a 'red herring'. Sure it costs a lot to maintain overseas consultants and their families in reasonably safe and secure conditions in a country where I never used to even consider locking my doors. No one suggests that consultants and their family members should not be protected and housed in a reasonable standard. If all that costs a lot in PNG, that's understandable.

The essence of the problem is not whether a consultant gets paid $150,000 a year or that their conditions of employment are very expensive to maintain. The issue must surely be whether the AusAID budget of hundreds of millions of dollars are achieving a desired objective or in fact, anything at all aside from the employment of a few consultants and of course, the AusAID team.

Where are the long term, planned and ongoing programs that will lift PNG's public health, education, law and order and any one of a number of essential public services?

When will there be some publically expressed benchmarks that must be met and therefore used to evaluate the pre stated and agreed objectives of both the PNG and the Australian governments?

What level of auditing is being applied to hold those deciding where the millions are spent, accountable for the use of Australian taxpayer's monies?

Who is directly responsible and accountable for these programs both in Australia and PNG? Do these people have preset and signed, personal work agreements that must be met in order to continue to be employed?

What detailed studies and evaluations have been undertaken that determine educated PNG nationals aren't available to be considered for AusAID contracts?

Fact finding tours and conferences are a complete waste of time and resources. Everyone knows what the problems are. Clearly its a case where no one seems to have the 'guts, gumption and get up and go' to be able to get their head around any long term, lasting solutions.

If private business were to operate along AusAID's lines, they would very quickly go out of business. How can AusAID therefore turn to private business and say that a partnership will turn the AusAID program around? Surely this is just a 'smoke and mirrors' campaign to divert attention away from a clear lack of achievement? We all know that a partnership of government and business is a current and common policy expressed by State and Federal governments in Australia as the way to go. But everyone knows that's just a policy of convenience at the time. Future non achievements of any stated plans and objectives can always be explained away when they occur and tax money used to plug the inevitable funding gap. At least Australia has universal education, health and welfare programs and a recognized and effective law enforcement regime.

So why should it not be said that AusAID seems to be 'clutching at straws'? and ... everyone knows what happens to a house built of straw.