PNG SME Magazine

30/09/2025

This year’s SME Awards have broken new ground, with unprecedented engagement from rural communities across the country. Thanks to the backing of Ela Motors—the Awards have been able to sustain six months of pre-nomination outreach and awareness campaigns, expanding their reach far beyond previous years.

So, just how far has the Ela Motors SME Awards travelled in 2025?
Here’s a sneak peek at the diverse locations where nominations have poured in:

Central Province
• Hiri Rural, Hiri Koiari District
• Aroma Rural LLG, Abau District
• Cloudy Bay Rural LLG, Abau District
• Rigo Central LLG, Rigo District
• Hiri Rural LLG, Kairuku Hiri District

Morobe Province
• Nanima Kariba LLG, Menyamya District
• YUS LLG, Kabwum District
• Watut Rural LLG, Bulolo District
• Umi Atzera LLG, Markham District
• Hube Rural LLG, Finschhafen District
• Wampar Rural LLG, Huon Gulf District
• Wasu / Sialum LLG, Tewae Siassi District
• Lae Urban

Eastern Highlands Province
• Gahuku LLG, Goroka District
• Upper Asaro LLG, Daulo District
• Unggai LLG, Unggai-Bena District

Madang Province
• Madang Urban
• Almami Rural LLG, Bogia District

East Sepik Province
• Angoram Rural LLG, Angoram District

West New Britain Province
• Mosa Rural LLG, Nakanai District
• Bali Witu Rural LLG, Talasea District
• Hoskins Rural LLG, Talasea District

East New Britain Province
• Kokopo-Vunamami Urban LLG, Kokopo District

New Ireland Province
• Kavieng Urban LLG, Kavieng District
• Lovongai Rural LLG, Kavieng District

Autonomous Region of Bougainville
• Wisai Rural, Buin

National Capital District
• Moresby North West
• Moresby North East
• Moresby South

Dominant Categories in 2025

This year, Agriculture, ICT, and Climate Resilience have led the charge in nominations. The expanded award categories now include:

• Cocoa, Coffee, Coconut, Spices
• Livestock
• Downstream Processing
• Inland & Marine Fisheries
• Innovative Sustainability
• Greenpreneurship & Blue Enterprise
• E-Commerce, Digital Entertainment & Music
• Transport, Tourism & Professional Services

This nationwide effort has been spearheaded by Strategic Communications, with vital support from:

Ela Motors PNG
Credit Guarantee Corporation PNG
Kina Bank
MiBank PNG
Women's Micro Bank
Credit Corporation
MoniPlus
Tisa Bank
TE PNG
CPL Group - PNG
City Pharmacy
BNG Trading
International Training Institute
UNCDF
PNG Australia Partnership Program

and SMEs such as

Jokema
Maku Gifts
Chayil Information Technology

Key Dates
• Nominations Close: Tuesday, 30 September at 11:00 PM
• Judging Period: October
• Awards Gala: Thurs, 13 Nov at Ela Beach APEC Haus, Port Moresby

29/09/2025

The Credit Guarantee Corporation and the United Nations Capital Development Fund have introduced an AI-powered platform designed to enhance loan assessments for micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

According to UNCDF Country Lead, Mr. Wyclliffe Ngwabe, traditional credit scoring often excludes smallholder farmers, women-led businesses, and microenterprises due to its reliance on collateral and financial history.

This breakthrough solution offers:

- Real time Creditworthiness insights without waiting for bank statements or collateral verification, reducing the turn around time from application to decision—especially for first-time borrowers or informal businesses.

- Entrepreneurial traits are quantified immediately, giving lenders a clearer picture of the borrower’s potential.

It is a game-changer for inclusive financing—unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs who were previously invisible to formal credit systems.

CGC CEO, Mr. Dominic Sikakau called for a widespread adoption of the General Financial Insight (GFI) Psychometric Credit Decisioning System—to improve access to finance for micro and Small to Medium Sized Businesses.

So far, CGC has partnered with multiple banks and microfinance institutions, launched tailored guarantee products for startups and established businesses, and introduced innovative tools like the AI-powered psychometric credit assessment platform to accelerate loan decisions and unlock financing for entrepreneurs previously excluded from formal credit systems.

The UNCDF in Papua New Guinea focuses on expanding financial inclusion and building a sustainable digital economy, especially for underserved groups like women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs. Key initiatives include the Rapid Finance Facility (RFF), which empowers women-led Micro and SMEs through digital tools and financial literacy, and the Inclusive Digital Economy Accelerator (IDEA), aimed at scaling access to financial services. UNCDF also leads the access-to-finance component of the EU-funded STREIT project, supporting agricultural value chains in Sepik provinces.

Credit Guarantee Corporation PNG
UN Capital Development Fund
UNDP in Papua New Guinea
Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion
SME Corporation

25/09/2025

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24/09/2025

From large plantations to thriving smallholder farms, Papua New Guinea’s cocoa industry has made remarkable progress. Now, it’s time for the legal and strategic frameworks to evolve and match that momentum.

Through the GEF 7 FOLUR Project, UNDP is partnering with the Cocoa Board of PNG to review the Cocoa Act of 1981 and develop the National Cocoa Sector Strategy for 2026–2035. Led by CEPA, the project’s implementing agency, stakeholder consultations were held this month in Port Moresby, Kokopo, and Lae.

Participants from across the cocoa value chain gathered to address key issues, including:

- Levy and fee collection from producers and sellers

- Alignment with global deforestation regulations

- Penalties for unsustainable production practices

- Strategic planning to meet the Government’s MTDP IV goals over the next decade

These conversations are vital to modernizing the sector’s legal foundation—ensuring it reflects current realities like traceability, environmental compliance, downstream processing, and regional expansion.

The final strategy will capture the voices of those who rely on cocoa and help shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for PNG’s cocoa industry.

23/09/2025

Rising acidity, soaring temperatures, and encroaching sea levels are serious concerns for our tourism island communities. A sobering truth for island and shoreline coastal SME and Cooperative communities who depend on the sea, surf, sun, and sand.

Watch Clem’s video—his message is spot on. Education and conservation are the keys to a sustainable future.
The Ela Motors SME Awards proudly feature three dedicated categories for Micro and Small Enterprises tackling challenges in the Blue and Green Economy:

- Kina Bank Innovative Sustainable Solutions Entrepreneur Award
- Kina Bank Greenpreneurs Excellence Award
- Yamaha Ocean Guardian Entrepreneur Award

Know an entrepreneur making waves in sustainability, marine protection, or climate innovation? Tag them in this post and nominate them today!

Nominations close September 30, 2025. Let’s celebrate those driving change through enterprise.






Kina Bank
Ela Motors PNG
Green Climate Fund
Global Green Growth Institute
Climate Change and Development Authority
Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority
SME Corporation

23/09/2025

23/09/2025

2025 6th Annual Ela Motors PNG SME Awards Nominations Closing 11pm, September 30, 2025

Micro and Informal Sector Categories
Click the link to nominate your Micro and Informal Sized Business
https://forms.gle/8akkx3wwwWi6Ydy88

Ela Motors PNG
SME Corporation
Credit Guarantee Corporation PNG

The Ela Motors PNG SME Awards 2025 are officially OPEN! Celebrate excellence by nominating outstanding local businesses today. This nomination form applies to businesses in the Informal Sector either a Start-Up or Micro Enterprise. The Micro Enterprise Awards applies to the Informal Sector either a....

23/09/2025

2025 6th Annual Ela Motors PNG SME Awards Nominations Closing 11pm, September 30, 2025

SME Categories
Click the link to nominate your Small to Medium Sized Business
https://forms.gle/ubVPpdmWFTH58LP47

Ela Motors PNG
SME Corporation

The Ela Motors PNG SME Awards 2025 are officially OPEN! Celebrate SME excellence by nominating outstanding local businesses today. This form only applies to Small to Medium Entrepreneurs (SME). Generally defined, SMEs are businesses with 5 to 100 employees, an asset net worth between K20,000 and K10...

22/09/2025

Did you know? The traditional PNG Bilum from the Highlands is a highly sought-after accessory among women in Papua Indonesia. In fact, we're sending two beautiful Bilums to Indonesia today!

When you purchase a Bilum from APO Meri—or from many other local makers—you’re not just buying a bag. You’re supporting women and sustaining a vibrant culture and over 1,000 artisans including weavers, potters, craftspeople, and beekeepers across the remote communities of UnGai Bena, Lufa, Kainantu, and Obura Waninara in Eastern Highlands Province.

APO Meri was recognized as the 2023 BSP Gold SME - 1st Runner Up of the Ela Motors SME Awards .

BSP Financial Group Limited
Ela Motors PNG
SME Corporation
Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority
National Cultural Commission

20/09/2025

Daulo Cooperative Honored with Energy Globe Award

The Daulo Commodities Cooperative Society Ltd (DCCSL), based in Eastern Highlands Province, was officially presented with the National Energy Globe Award for Papua New Guinea—an honor it earned in 2024. The award, issued by the Energy Globe Foundation in Austria, celebrates outstanding environmental initiatives worldwide and marks a significant milestone in PNG’s leadership in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

The winning project, titled “Creating Resilience Design System for Village Farmers,” was led by Jonathan Inapelo and the cooperative. It focused on transitioning rural farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

Key achievements included:

- Planting 200,000 pine and eucalyptus trees per household to combat soil erosion and overfarming

- Supporting over 1,600 households with improved food security, income, and labor opportunities

- Promoting disaster-resilient crops such as bananas, yams, and sweet potatoes

- Delivering training in water management, drainage, and soil fertility preservation

The Energy Globe Award that Papua New Guinea won in 2024 had participation from over 180 countries out of 195 countries in the world and received more than 25,000 project entries globally, making it one of the most prestigious environmental awards in the world, highlighting innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

This recognition highlights the cooperative’s innovative approach to environmental stewardship and its role in building resilient farming communities across PNG.

The Award was presented to Jonathan Inapelo and the Daulo Commodities Cooperative Society Ltd (DCCSL) by Ulrike Straka, Austrian Consul for Commercial Affairs and Trade Commissioner.

PPAP Coffee Component
Coffee Industry Corporation Limited

20/09/2025

Riwo Boosts Crab Conservation

Did you know that in May this year, community members in Riwo Village, Madang Province, shared their concerns about declining fish stocks and shrinking crop yields—issues they attribute to climate change and overfishing. Andrew Sil, chairman of the Community Representative Committee, described how villagers now travel far beyond the reef to catch fish, where once the lagoon was abundant. With livelihoods tied closely to the sea, the community has embraced a new initiative to restore biodiversity and support income generation.

The Mud Crab Fattening Project, led by World Vision and funded by UNDP, was launched in Riwo as part of a broader marine conservation effort in the Laugum Marine Protected Area. Crabs sourced from Bogia are raised by locals like Raymond, a young volunteer who manages the farm and sees the project as a lifeline for his future. The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience, restore mangroves, and create alternative income streams through crab exports to international markets.

Despite early enthusiasm, challenges remain—especially around sourcing sustainable crab feed and increasing community involvement. Project Coordinator Terry Gabby remains optimistic, noting the dedication of the local committee and the potential for long-term impact. With the first crab harvest expected soon, the community hopes this effort will spark renewed support and help protect both their environment and their way of life.

WWorld Vision International
UUNDP in Papua New Guinea
NNational Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea - NFA

18/09/2025

Over 1,500 fishing households in East Sepik Province are now benefiting from seven inshore Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) deployed near island and coastal communities, including Wallis, Vokeo, Koil, Ruprup, Kauk, Karawap, and Mandi. Implemented by FAO under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, the initiative aims to improve catch rates, reduce fuel costs, and strengthen food security. On Wallis Island, the Fongkeleh Catches Business Group, with 150 members, reports dramatic improvements in fishing efficiency and income.

The FADs are strategically placed close to shore, allowing fishers to access productive fishing grounds with less travel time. Communities with a combined population of around 9,000 now experience easier fish aggregation, helping protect reef ecosystems by shifting fishing pressure away from sensitive areas. Prior to deployment, 33 fishers received training in FAD construction, sustainable harvesting, safety protocols, and community-led management.

Women, who play a key role in fish processing and marketing, are also seeing benefits through better time management and increased income opportunities. The training was inclusive, equipping both men and women with skills in safe fishing and FAD operations. FAO plans to expand this support to more communities in East and West Sepik, reinforcing fish as a vital source of nutrition and livelihood under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme.

UNDP in Papua New Guinea
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
International Cooperative Alliance
National Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea - NFA