Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea, Ms. Elizabeth Genia officially opened the Women’s Micro Bank Branch in Kerema, making it the fifth branch to be operating in the country. Ms. Genia addressed the hundreds of witnesses of Kerema town who were present for the event. “Today’s official opening of its fifth branch celebrates another achievement in a long line of achievements we have seen for women’s micro bank.” “I am sure your highly esteemed founder, the late Janet Sape, would have been extremely proud of the organization affectionately known as Mama Bank, now one of the top 50 companies for women in APEC countries and well regarded as a financial services innovator.” Ms. Genia stated that WMB has emerged as a key driver of financial inclusion, which was initially a BPNG-led innovation but is now a national strategic priority. She praised women's microbank services for addressing several financial inclusion goals, particularly emphasizing depositing, and lending opportunities for the 85% of the population who remain unbanked. “I understand the Kerema branch will enable the people of the district, particularly the women, to take advantage of services such as the MSC credit scheme, financial literacy training, as well as basics, including deposit takings and loans.” “The branch will provide a practical and desirable alternative to the risks of holding cash, informal money lending and money scams, all of which stop people from building a comfortable standard of living.” “Today’s official opening gives members of the community the opportunity to take significant steps forward towards building the financial security and financial independence.” Concurrently with the opening, the Kerema District SME Policy was officially launched by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Honourable James Marape. The Prime Minister committed K3million to the WMB Kerema branch as part of the Government's partnership with KDDA in assisting to create a credit lending facility where Gulf women, particularly mothers in SMEs, can benefit.