Pacifund

The program, which ran from April 8^th-12^th, saw enthusiastic participation from 40 young minds eager to delve into the world of entrepreneurship.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in theory-based sessions covering essential business topics, including business vocabulary, startup strategies, financial literacy, pricing strategies, and customer selection.

Building upon the previous day’s foundation of giving kids their first start in business, the sessions delved into practical applications of business concepts and transforming theory into engaging activities.

With child-friendly booklets in hand, the young participants immersed themselves in the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, learning how to initiate and manage a business.

Funded by the Tari Pori District Development Authority (DDA), this initiative spans the next five years, commencing in 2024.

SME Capacity Building: Pacifund is committed to providing comprehensive capacity-building education for over 10,000 individuals, fostering skill development and entrepreneurship in the region.

Formalizing Businesses: The partnership aims to register informal businesses with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and Internal Revenue Commission (IRC), ensuring legal recognition and compliance.

. CEO Des Yaninen expressed pride in their achievements, emphasizing the journey each participant undertook.

Reflecting on his personal experiences, Yaninen highlighted the challenging economic landscape, citing the depreciation of the kina and its impact on living costs. He emphasized the crucial role SMEs play in addressing unemployment, stating that creating one million SMEs could generate four million jobs, a potential solution to Papua New Guinea's job market problems.