SME Corporation

26/07/2026

Friday July 24th, 2026: Under an existing partnership between SME Corporation and the International Training Institute (ITI) 25 students have graduated from the International Labour Organization's Start Your Business (SYB) Entrepreneurship training facilitated by SME Corporation.

The two weeks SYB training started on July 13th, and ended with a graduation on July 24th, 2026.

The 25 participants are second-year students currently studying Diploma in Small Business Management, Human Capital Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Marketing Management and Information Communication Technology.

This number now brings up the total number of students from ITI who have received the SYB Entrepreneurship training to 50 under the current partnership between SME Corporation and the International Training Institute.

The first batch of students received the same training last year.

Present to witness the graduation were officials from SME Corporation and the International Training Institute.

Mr. Peter Amos, Manager - Know About Business, represented SME Corporation at the graduation.

He encouraged the students to start small in doing business.

"You can start your business with one K10, K20, it doesn't matter. It's the perseverance that sees one succeed in business by overcoming obstacles."

Meantime, the Dean of Studies at the International Training Institute, Dr. Ashok Jayaraman challenged the 25 students to get into business and do something for themselves to earn an income after the completion of their studies.

//Ends//

01/07/2026

27/06/2026

Friday 26th June, 2026: Marginalized youth in NCD continue to benefit from a renewed partnership between SME Corporation and Save The Children Inc. PNG.

Under the renewed Service Level Agreement, SME Corporation has facilitated Entrepreneurship Trainings for the youth in Port Moresby.

Two trainings were conducted concurrently; Start Your Business – Standard and Start Your Business Micro- Enterprise at the Don Bosco Emaus Conference Centre.

The two trainings were conducted from June 15th – June 26th.

On Friday 26th June, 31 youths graduated from Start Your Business – Standard Entrepreneurship training whilst 35 graduated from Start Your Business – Micro Enterprise, in all 66 youths received certificates.

Last year, a total of 52 youths received the same trainings.

The SME Corporation's SYB trainings come under Save The Children's Life Skills for Success Project to equip youths within NCD Entrepreneurship Skills Development funded by the Hand Heart Pocket Foundation.

Officials from both organizations were present to witness the graduation of the 66 youths.

SME Corporation was represented by Manager Capacity Building Mr. Bill Reuben who challenged the youths to put into practicality what they have learnt during the two weeks of training.

Also present to issue certificates to the youths was SME Corporation’s Human Resource Manager, Mr. Tobby Apa.

Meantime, Save The Children Inc. PNG was represented by its Country Director Ms. Lisa Piper who congratulated the youths on their achievement.

23/06/2026

SME Corporation is amongst other key stakeholders who has set up it's information booth at the APEC Haus as part of the SME Week activities organized by the PNG SME Magazine. We will be there till Friday, so if you are a MSME who faces challenges in your business or an aspiring entrepreneur who needs advise on how to start your business, come talk to us.

We also offer Garment and Textile Training at our Women Enterprises Development Centre so come find out more from us on our next training date.

And if you love leather products: sandals, hats, wallets and belts we have it all for you at our booth.
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18/06/2026

Thursday June 18th, 2026: SME Corporation hosted a delegation from Morobe Province today (Thursday) travelling to Korea for the Korea Import Exposition. The team of 10 comprised of farmers from three (3) Co-operative Societies; Weleki Co-operative Society from Tewai/Siassi District, Unasmu Co-operative and Takom Farm Co-operative Societies from Markham District with officers from Morobe Provincial Commerce Division, Markham District Administration, Tewai/Siassi District Administration and PNG Cocoa Board.

Through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Investment Opportunity Profiling, SME Corporation identified ten small medium enterprises or SMEs from Morobe Province and invited them to attend the Korea Import Expo. Only 3 out of the 10 SMEs will showcase their cocoa products at the Korea Import Expo.

In 2023, SME Corporation sponsored Togoba Kofi to attend the Korea Import Expo.

Meantime, the delegation from Morobe leaves on Friday June 19th, 2026 for the Korea Import Expo

11/06/2026

Wednesday June 10th, 2026:

BUILDING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CULTURE

SME Corporation has identified that micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSME Training and Capacity Building Program in PNG is important in building an entrepreneurship culture.

Being the lead government agency for MSME development in the country, the organization has taken a strategic approach in enhancing the existing relationship with the National Department of Education in building an entrepreneurship culture in PNG with the formalizing of a Memorandum of Understanding or MoU.

The purpose of signing the MoU is to establish a formal framework for cooperation between SME Corporation and the National Department of Education to jointly implement, coordinate and sustain the Know About Business Entrepreneurial Education and Training Programme as an in-school entrepreneurship education program.

Signing on behalf of SME Corporation was the Managing Director Mr. Petrus Ralda.

Mr. Ralda highlighted the importance of signing the MoU with the National Department of Education. “This MoU signing is very critical for PNG as the country’s economy is built on from the private sector through an entrepreneurship culture and changing the mindsets of our young people will see them become entrepreneurs.”

Meantime, signing on behalf of the National Education Department, the Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra embraced the signing of the MoU, and stressed on its importance. “We have to empower the young people coming out of the school system every year with the right skills and knowledge and if we don’t our country will not advance economically. They have to create employment and earn an income for themselves.”

He said this because of the high number of school leavers every year at each qualification exit point – grades eight, ten and twelve.

He pointed out that KAB will help build entrepreneurial mindsets for the students.

Dr. Kombra also highlighted the plans that NDoE has under the Curriculum Reform to have a subject similar to financial literacy.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Secretary NDoE Dr. Uke Komba (left) and SME Corporation MD, Mr. Petrus Ralda right with the signed MoU

10/06/2026

Wednesday June 10th, 2026:

SME Corporation has strengthened its partnership with the National Department of Education by signing a Memorandum of Understanding today (Wednesday) to rollout the Know About Business Entrepreneurship Training Program in all Technical Vocational Education and Training or TVET schools in the country.

Know About Business is one of the four main International Labour Organization (ILO) Entrepreneurship Development Training Program implemented by SME Corporation.

The purpose of signing the MoU is to establish a formal framework for cooperation between SME Corporation and the National Department of Education to jointly implement, coordinate and sustain the Know About Business Entrepreneurial Education and Training Programme as an in-school entrepreneurship education program.

The Know About Business (KAB) empowers young people between the ages of 15 – 24 years with the entrepreneurial skills and it is an in-school program.

10/06/2026

Hon. Win Bakri Daki, Minister for Commerce and Industry engaging with Students from the June Valley Primary School at the SMEC stall at the Hilton Hotel during the Inaugural Pangu Expo and Convention 2026.He explained to the students that he is a living testimony of a successful entrepreneur and eventually became a state Minister and encouraged the students to have a business mindset whilst in school.

28/04/2026

The Start Your Business (SYB) Training program was held at Iabai Primary School from 7th to 17th April 2026. The training was led by SMEC SYB Master Trainer Mr. Anis Kulimbao, and the Central Provincial Government, Business Development Officer (BDO) and SIYB Trainer, Mr Francis Asi, marking the 8th SYBME training delivered in Abau District. A total of 77 participants (33 women and 44 men) took part, strengthening local capacity for entrepreneurship and small business development.

At the closing ceremony, OIC-Policy Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division( PCME) Mr. Barry Sausia, congratulated the participants and reminded them that agriculture is the backbone of rural communities. He encouraged them to use their new skills to grow cocoa, coconut, and food crops, and highlighted that support from Abau DDA, MAMA Bank, and the Central Provincial Government—through the K1 million revolving fund and K5 million SME allocation—means finance and opportunity are now within reach. He challenged participants to work together and build enterprises that uplift families and communities.

Speaking also at the event, the Acting Commerce Advisor, Mr. Leo Ameua from the Central Provincial Government reaffirmed the Provincial Government’s commitment to grassroots economic empowerment. He announced the K5 million allocation to support SMEs in accessing funding and shared that the Government looks forward to signing an MOU with SMEC to roll out SME programs across the Central Province.

Finally, Mr. Casmeir Banda (Abau District Business Development Officer) emphasized that the Abau DDA has allocated K1 million in partnership with MAMA Bank and SMEC to support SMEs through the Invest and Grow Money revolving fund initiative under the existing MOU. He explained that MAMA Bank aims to open 300 accounts before setting up a branch at Kupiano Station, creating new opportunities for local entrepreneurs.