CEFI AND BUSINESS LINK PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP TO EMPOWER MSMEs AT UNITY MALL AND CITY HUB
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises at Unity Mall and City Hub in Port Moresby will now have direct access to business advisory services, financial literacy training and funding support following the launch of the Business Link Pacific Programme.
The partnership between the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion and Business Link Pacific will bring the support closer to the people, with CEFI to station two officers at Unity Mall three days a week to assist business owners.
For the more than 120 MSMEs at Unity Mall, 95 per cent of whom are women, the initiative means easier access to professional advice, grants, subsidies and concessional loans to strengthen and expand their businesses.
The link will help entrepreneurs improve financial management, grow their businesses, create employment and transition into the formal financial sector.
CEFI Acting Executive Director Peter Samuel said the programme connects entrepreneurs directly to support services that will help build resilient enterprises.
New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Charlie Gillard said the BLP Programme has already supported more than 1,150 businesses in PNG over the past decade, and the new support desk will bring information and opportunities closer to business owners.
Unity Mall Executive Chairman Eric Haiara said access to finance and business development support is essential for local MSMEs to achieve sustainable growth.
For customers and communities, stronger local businesses mean more jobs, improved livelihoods and greater economic opportunities for families.
