A coalition has been set up in Papua New Guinea with the aim of encouraging and supporting more women in business.
PNG's Business Coalition for Women was launched yesterday with the support of the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.
The first association of its kind in the Pacific, its goal is to drive economic growth and reduce poverty by promoting equal opportunities for women.
The coalition's patron Lady Winifred Kamit says they would like to be able to reach out to those operating on a small-scale, with women representing 99 percent of the informal business sector.
She says PNG women are very entrepreneurial in spirit.
"You see in Port Moresby the people at the markets and those who own public motor vehicles in town and you'd be surprised how many women are behind that. And the micro-finance membership, the women are the best customers there, the best clients."
Lady Winifred Kamit.
A number of women from PNG's business community were elected to the board.
