by Mickey Kavera – EM TV, Vanimo
West Sepik Province is experiencing significant growth in its Small to Medium Enterprise sector.
This growth is spurred by the increase in the volume of various food items, clothing accessories, white goods and cooking utensils and appliances coming from the border.
Small business entrepreneurs in the province say, trade across the border has provided them with a much cheaper alternative in purchasing items for sale.
It has also helped them save costs from importing from other centres in Papua New Guinea which is too expensive.
As much as the demand for PNG made products high on the Indonesian side, the same can be said for Indonesian products on the PNG side of the border.
Small businesses in the province say, they want to promote PNG made products across the border to add to the growth in the Small Medium Enterprise sector and want the government to facilitate a conducive environment for trade.
As it is, there are no proper trading facilities at the border and in the province, for SMEs to conduct their business.