The MSME Council of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is looking to roll out its 2024 annual plan, which will include working together with key partners like the Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) for its Trainer of Trainers program to support its financial literacy programs. The Council’s Executive Director, Ms. Yolanda Bafmatuk said that in the initial discussions they were able to discuss with CEFI and come up with four different trainings, one for each of the four quarters of the year, to cover for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). “Apart from that we are keen on also reaching out to see these sort of programs running in other centers,” said Ms. Bafmatuk. “It won’t be the same, we have to tailor our programs to suit the different environments that are out there.” She explained that this is a campaign for SMEs to be self-sufficient and to support each other to excel and be successful. Despite the challenges that the SMEs face, she encouraged all the SMEs that the MSME Council will try to do its best to support them in their progress. Meanwhile, the MSME Council Founder, Mr. James Gore said that the existence of the Council is to give the micro, small and medium businesses a voice at the government level, so to bring across concerns and also influence policies for SMEs. “The aim of the MSME Council is to advocate, to create an enabling environment for the SME Sector,” Mr. Gore further stressed. The MSME Council was established in 2019 after a Ministerial Approval and in four years, it has become a critical platform to support the SME sector in the country.