Milne Bay SMEs race toward June finish in blue economy program

With the June finish line fast approaching, Milne Bay’s 5 selected local small to medium enterprises who have signed on with the Gutpla Solwara, Gutpla Bisnis Program in November last year, were visited this week for a project grant status update.

The program is a joint UNDP and UNCDF project supporting reef-positive enterprises, from seaweed farming to ecotourism, to create livelihoods by supporting women-led businesses.

It blends marine conservation with financial innovation, targeting women led initiatives, and the five applicants in Milne Bay this week were taken through Phase 2 of the Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility, readying them for the finish line come June.

They are existing local businesses in the space of green enterprising and had signed grant contracts under the program in November last year and have begun implementing their development project under the Gutpla Solwara, Gutpla Bisnis endeavor.

Abel Wallace from Kunawa Beach Getaway

Construction is underway, all these local grant awardees have a June deadline.

There were challenges.

Robert Jeffery from Nuli Sapi Retreat

Most if not all of them are based outside Alotau, fully locally owned and operated and incorporated with nature.

They expressed gaps as well which they’d ideally like closed including more proactive help from government.

Again, Abel Wallace talking there.

This week they were taken through the last lag of training and received certification for Comprehensive Financial and Business Literacy Training and Target Mentorship.

Joshua Sam, the UNDP Assistant Resident Representative, Environment Portfolio

Milne Bay is one of two provinces that are engaged in this program, the other is West New Britain Province.