Fifty-three participants of the Fisheries Business Training Program graduated in a small ceremony held at the Crown Hotel yesterday. They are from the from Abau-Goilala and Hiri-Koiari districts.
The certificate presentation was officiated by John Chris Dotson, Deputy Managing Director for National Fisheries Authority (NFA).
The graduates are of different age groups with various backgrounds. Each maintain an SME activity either in Mud crab or Fish farming. They participated in the 6-week Fisheries Training Program facilitated by NFA trainers. The program began on November 3rd, and ended December 8th, 2022.
The training they’ve undergone is aligned to the Fisheries Strategic 10-year Project where NFA will train, build capacity and engage in extension support services for ordinary Papua New Guineans to meaningfully participate in the development of the fisheries sector.
In his keynote address, Mr Dotson stated that the graduation symbolized the planting of a seed in each of the participant which would be a commercial amplifier to the training they received and boost the MSME business they currently run.
“Getting down to the hauslain level, identifying people who come with sweat, you don’t need to bring a single toea but you come with your commitment. Displa sweat, that’s your commitment.
“This is a state institution where people at home and villages, if you have the sweat capital, if you have the heart, the passion that you want to do fish business, NFA will support you.”
Mr. Dotson said NFA aims to bring a commercial acumen to the skillset that the people already have, like in fishing.
Maria Huaniangre, Fisheries Business Program Leader based in Madang, said the program will empower many coastal villages with their MSMEs and this recent program being the first of its kind already shows promise that it will be fully utilized well.