As part of ABV’s mission to build inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the region, we are proud to partner with City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) Foundation Inc. to mentor six women trailblazing local entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea.
Along with developing successful women-led businesses, these entrepreneurs are offering innovative market solutions to preserve language, foster local art and culture, and market locally-made sustainable products for health and beauty.
The six month women entrepreneurship program provides participants in-person workshops, personalised mentorship, and one-on-one coaching from ABV’s skilled business volunteers to help forge lasting networks and business acceleration.
We are continually inspired by the vision and determination of these women, and hope that you are too.
Kazieh Taganny: Hair care tailored for Melanesian women
Frustrated by the lack of hair care tailored for Melanesian women, in 2022 PNG entrepreneur Kazieh Taganny created her own suite of products designed for PNG women to embrace their natural hair.
What started as a personal solution, quickly grew into a thriving business with Kazieh and her sister founding Niugini Naturals to sell their hair and scalp oil, rapid growth hair food, and whipped shea butter.
Within two years, the women-led business has expanded distribution to regions across PNG, and in Port Moresby salons its products have outperformed international brands. Kazieh is proud that all Niugini Naturals products are handmade and use organic ingredients to reduce reliance on chemical treatments.
Kazieh is also grateful to receive tailored business development guidance through the CPL Foundation Inc. and ABV Business Mentoring Program 2024, “As small business owners, this program is already helping us achieve goals we thought would take 10 years. It has shown us the power of community, networking, and mentorship.”
Deborah Salle: Championing PNG’s linguistic heritage
Based in Port Moresby, Deborah Salle identified the need for high-quality linguistic services for government and aid and development organisations working in PNG and its rich linguistic heritage.
With over 800 languages spoken across the country, Deborah founded PNG Language Services in 2020 and embarked on her journey as a quality language entrepreneur.
Now in its fifth year of operation, Deborah works alongside a network of experienced translators to offer translation, interpretation and tutoring in the country’s most prominent languages: Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, Kuanua, and Enga.
Her clients include diplomats, global agencies, international language service providers, as well as community-based volunteers such as those from the Japan International Cooperation Agency who took Deborah’s course in Tok Pisin to deepen their work in the community.
Deborah says through her recent involvement in the CPL Foundation Inc. and ABV Business Mentoring Program 2024, PNG Language Services was able to develop a translation training program to develop local competency in English and Tok Pisin translation.
“My biggest takeaway was learning how to break down my goals into weekly tasks,” Deborah says. “I also learned to create business habits - something I’ll apply not just in my business but in my personal life too.”
Nadya Parascos: Spearheading cultural expression
As a corner-stone to Port Moresby’s creative scene, in 2022 Nadya Paracos took her passion for entertainment and performing arts to establish Dare2Create as a local enterprise to strengthen local art and culture.
Now in its third year of operation, the creative company delivers fresh and captivating entertainment experiences that are known to bring Port Moresby to life.
These productions have included a video mapping and dance show for PNG Air’s 35th Anniversary, alongside a performance with the Boera Village cultural and theatre group that told the legendary story of Edai Siabo and the first lagatoi.
With Dare2Create tasked with providing entertainment at CPL Foundation’s Pride of PNG Women Awards in 2024, Nadya is now one of six mentees in the CPL Foundation Inc. and ABV Business Mentoring Program.
Coinciding her responsibilities as a new mother, Nadya says the intensive mentorship has excelled her development. “The sessions have been greatly beneficial as there is real-time guidance and advice on different challenges in the goals set.”
Find out more about the PNG women entrepreneurs in the CPL Foundation and ABV Business Mentoring Program 2024.
