MP announces district will host first SMEs event

 THE Yangoru-Saussia district, in East Sepik, is set to host its first ever small to medium enterprises (SME) day tomorrow, local MP Richard Maru says. 

Maru yesterday said the SME day would be the first of its kind to happen in the country since independence.

“The Yangoru-Saussia district is gearing up to make history as the district in 40 years of independence to host a district SME wide SME day on Friday,” he said.

“Preparations are underway. All PMVs in the district have been hired, banners have been hung along the Sepik Highway and roads in the district while awareness have been given to schools in all the four LLGs.”

Maru said the activities started yesterday culminating with the SME day tomorrow. “We have a target number of SMEs to identify, start and support the growth of our 10,000 formal SMEs in the district over the next 15 years starting 2015 in line with our Government’s SME policy,” he said.

He said Yangoru-Saussia district development authority had been concentrating on getting the basics right over the past 3 years. “These include maintaining and constructing roads, improving education and health services and instilling law and order.

“This has resulted in the district now being conducive for businesses. We are now ready to support our people start to grow their business. We must kill the free hand-out mentality. This mentality has killed our hard work and entrepreneurial spirit,” Maru said. He added that highlight of SME day would include;

• Launch of Yangoru-Saussia district credit scheme;
• distribution of first cocoa seedlings programme under the district free cocoa seedling programme; and,
• All banks were already setting up stalls at Yangoru station to showcase their products during the SME day.