by Delly Bagu – EM TV, Port Moresby
The Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) is one of the most dynamic economies in the world and Papua New Guinea has been a member of the APEC since 1993.
During the Women’s Forum today, participants discussed how women in Papua New Guinea could use the 2018 APEC Summit to increase their access to markets.
A panel discussion sought answers to questions, such as: How can the Papua New Guinea-hosted APEC events create opportunities for women to sell their products?
Papua New Guinea will be hosting the APEC Summit in 2018. It will also be co-hosting, with the Philippines, the Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy in Port Moresby in May this year.
In light of these prestigious events, the focus of discussions was on using APEC to increase women’s access to market.
On the panel were a range of speakers representing the Business Council of PNG, Douveri Henao, Senior Official for PNG to APEC, Ivan Pomaleu, PNG Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Janet Sios, and Win-IT Consultancy, Winifred Amini.
Mr Henao said business literacy was vital in knowing one’s business.
He said it was important for businesses to know information such as their market placements, product development and where one connects in the supply chain.
Mrs Sios said that from her experience with the previous APEC meeting, the issue for many businesses, including women’s businesses, was developing products into a marketable level.
Co-founder of Win-IT Consultancy, Winifred Amini, said Papua New Guinea does not have a strong ecosystem that is open to new innovations and highlighted the need for more to be done to support the birth of businesses and industries.
Mr Pomaleu said the conversation of APEC is connectivity and trade, and that the opportunities that come with it are massive.
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