The document profiles several small business owners in Papua New Guinea under 35 years old who employ up to 10 staff and are well known brands in their industries. It discusses how they started with little experience or qualifications but a desire to do more. It outlines the context of PNG's culture and economy and how a new generation is highly educated with exposure to technology and social media. It identifies opportunities for small players in telecommunications and other sectors but also challenges such as hiring skilled workers, training, and costs. It promotes more business incubators and accelerators to help move PNG forward with changing technology.

1. Zha Agabe-Granfar | Managing Director of VERGE
Digital Marketing & Communications ▪︎ Brand Innovation
Creative Services ▪︎ Capacity Building
www.vergepng.com | www.facebook.com/vergepng

2. How can
we move
PNG with
changing
technology?

4. source: http://www.papuanewguinea.travel/papuanewguineaculture

9. Ginia Sialis | Managing Director of Tapioca Delight
Established in 2012
Specialty Cakes ▪︎ Cupcakes ▪︎ Trifles ▪︎ Events Catering
www.facebook.com/tapiocadelight

10. Luania Temu | Managing Director of Ui-Tiki
Established in 2011
Casual Fashionable Dresses ▪ Formal Wear ▪ Accessories
www.uitiki.com | www.facebook.com/uitikifashion

11. Xenia Peni | Managing Director House of Xen
Established in 2012
Ladies & Mens’ Hair ▪︎ Massages ▪︎ Facials ▪︎ Waxing ▪︎ Manicures ▪︎ Pedicures
▪︎ Body Piercing
www.facebook.com/houseofxen

12. Genevieve Igara-Falevai | Managing Director Wantok Clothing
Established in 2015
Retailers of PNG inspired fashion brands and products ▪︎ PNG Made Toana Print Wear
▪︎ Tailored Women’s Fashion ▪︎ Corporate Uniforms
www.facebook.com/homeofpngdesign

13. Who are they?
§ < 35 Years Old
§ Employ up to 10 staff
§ Most well known POM-based brands in their
industry
§ Started as:
§ unqualified,
§ Inexperienced
§ YOUNG
(some started before 30 years old)
§ Desire to do ‘something more’
§ Faith-centered way-of life

14. Context
• PNG’s Official Minimum Wage
– K3.50 per hour (approx. AUD$1.40)
– K300 per f/night (approx AUD$120)
• Culture centered around
community and collective living

15. New Generation
• Highly educated and exposed to
international trends and quality
• Grew up with the genesis of
– Internet
– Computer & Mobile Technology
– Social Media
• Attitude eager to seize opportunities
– Self-learning
– Experimenting applied scalable solutions

16. Intrinsic Qualities
• Willing to share their experience and
learning
• Comfortable with collective learning
• Seek income-earning opportunities for
others, sometimes at the village level
• ‘Level 5’ Leadership Qualities

17. PNG Women’s
Business Resource
Centre
Mona Lonndem Endehipa
POM Program Manager
• Operating since November
2016
• > 300 regular participants
• > 31 Years old (majority)
• < K40,000 per annum
• < Grade 10 Education
• < 45 years old
• comfortable with shared
knowledge economy
• Capitalise on contemporary
opportunities
• > 45 years old
• Typically less willing to share
business ideas
• Miss out on benefitting from
collective learning

18. Telecommunications
• 2017
• Mobile Penetration 50%
• LTE and 4G Services
Introduced within main city
centers
• 2G accessible in more
remote areas
• 2006
• Mobile Penetration 1.6%

19. Opportunities for Small Players

22. Challenges
• Recruiting and retaining skilled workers
• Up-skilling low-skilled labour
• Training
• Banking Processes
• Cost of importing necessary inputs to
provide quality services
• Loss of time over the simple things
• Rent – cost and regular increases
(eg. 7% pa)
• Many others…!!

24. More Incubators & Accelerators

25. Moving
Papua New Guinea
with
Changing
Technology

26. Zha Agabe-Granfar | Managing Director of VERGE
Digital Marketing & Communications ▪︎ Brand Innovation
Creative Services ▪︎ Capacity Building
www.vergepng.com | www.facebook.com/vergepng | info@vergepng.com