Interested MSMEs, business groups, farmers cooperatives and Women and Youth groups engaged in cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains in the Sepik are being invited to submit business development plans for the STREIT Innovative Fund’s support. Innovation Fund grants aim to support local MSMEs and entrepreneurs and to stimulate investments in cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. Programme Coordinator for the EU-funded STREIT Programme in Papua New Guinea, Mr. Ali Said Yesuf explained the objective of the Innovative Fund to the participants during an information session in Maprik, East Sepik Province. “Our objective is to support your community to make a better living and more importantly to earn better in your engagement in Cocoa, Vanilla or Fisheries so we will accept all reasonable proposals.” The call for proposals opened on the 20th of June and will end this month on the 20th July. Applications will be accepted via email only to PG-STREIT-innovation@fao.org. The STREIT Innovation Fund will channel financial support (in-kind) to local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), registered cooperatives, business groups, as well as registered Youth and Women Groups which are engaged in the cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains in the West and East Sepik provinces. PNG-owned and–based businesses which intend to invest in the Sepik Region are also eligible to apply. Financed by the European Union, the support from the STREIT Innovation Fund ranges between PGK 35,000 and PGK1 million and will be provided in-kind (no cash) supports in the forms of provision of services, training, equipment and technology.