PIPSO Hosts Capacity Building Workshop for PNG Women in Fiji

April 27, 2015

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Suva, Fiji – A weeklong capacity building workshop on ‘Building Women Entrepreneurs in the Rural Sector’ began today at the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Hall in Nabua, Fiji. This capacity building workshop is for 20 women from the Rigo Province in Papua New Guinea who operate small sewing businesses in their community.

The workshop is to expand the current skills and knowledge of these women and learn of other business areas that can be undertaken in the rural community. The workshop covers jewellery making (traditional and contemporary), screen printing, tie dyeing and sewing.

The training facilitators include: the Fiji National University Department of Fashion and Design Senior Lecturer Rosie Semisi, Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau, who is also President of Women Entrepreneurs Fiji, fashion Designers Michael Mausio and Anton Conway Wye and former journalist and artisan Thelma Nabukavou.

PIPSO’s CEO Mereia Volavola in her opening address pointed out that PIPSO’s support to the private sector is inclusive, in that, it also includes support for rural entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs in rural areas need to be supported as much as those in the urban areas. The workshop is in partnership with Niugini Native Ltd (a Papua New Guinean company) and the support of the Honourable Minister Ano Pala who saw the potential in enhancing the skills and interests of the women entrepreneurs’ in the Rigo Province.

Mrs Volavola said that much can be done to enhance skills and knowledge for business men and women in the Pacific, when we share, trade knowledge and network with each other. She encouraged companies, especially large corporates in the Pacific to work and support small scale entrepreneurs from rural areas.

Funding support for this workshop has been made possible from the Business Development Fund provided by the Japanese Government.

The event was officially opened by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Dame Meg Taylor. She commended the efforts of the women in trying to upskill themselves and diversify their business activities, and declared would assist such initiatives where she could.

Background Information

Since its inception, the Business Development Fund (BDF) has assisted many Pacific SMEs in strengthening various business development areas such as: product development and packaging, quality assurance aspects, developing marketing and communication materials such as signboards, training and technical assistance, and attendance and participation at trade shows. Funded by the Government of Japan and managed by the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), the BDF is available as a cost-sharing grant to businesses from PIPSO’s 14 member countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Particularly focusing on SMEs, the BDF is available to registered businesses that have been in operation for at least year.engthening Pacific Economic Integration Through Trade programme (SPEITT), funded under the 10th European Development Fund. The PITAP aims to improve the capacity of Pacific Island Countries to trade and increase exports and investments – areas which are results for firms participating in clusters; as firms in the cluster enhance their business competitiveness they are more able to trade more, export, and attract growing and more dynamic investments.