Glenda Supring (pictured above, centre) could not contain her excitement as she recounted the details of recent business opportunities that she received after Australia Award PNG published her story and the Australian High Commission posted it on their Facebook page last month. Her team has been receiving a huge influx of service enquiries ever since.
Glenda and her business partner, Colleen Kivia Kumbure, own GiiCo Stevedoring (GiiCo) and manage several subsidiary businesses, including stevedoring, stationery supplies, printing and secretarial services. They are also MiBank and Digicel Cell Moni agents.
GiiCo landed a stationery supplies contract with the European Union (EU) trade projects when they read her story. The EU trade project in Wewak went on to nominate GiiCo as a super-agent for MiBank. As a result, Glenda and her team have been working hard to facilitate the expansion from over-the-counter transactions to digital financial services, including mobile banking. Adding to her excitement, Glenda reports that Digicel have also expressed interest in reviewing GiiCo’s Cell Moni contract.
Glenda Supring (left)with MiBank COO Mr Trude Egi (far right)
Alongside new business opportunities, old business relationships have also resurfaced. Glenda was pleasantly surprised when Pan Aust Limited, a Frieda River mining contractor, reached out to re-establish links. She first partnered with them in 2018, when she met a Pan Aust employee and fellow alumnus Joel Hamago at an Australia Awards PNG Toastmaster event. Joel had facilitated a stationery supply contract for Glenda, and soon after, this contract expanded to freight and logistics services. Glenda will be providing freight and logistics, as well as on-ground support in Wewak town for Pan Aust, including sourcing and supply of resources, rations and medivac assistance.
Not expecting the impact one story could have on her business, Glenda was overwhelmed with the interest and the ripple effect it had caused.
“I’d like to acknowledge Australia Awards PNG for the scholarship – the short courses set up to build capacity, contributing to my learning, and through toastmasters, giving me the opportunity to meet another alumni and venture into another business opportunity with Frieda River.”
Unphased by the increasing workload that accompanies expansion, Glenda and her team have opened a passports and visa service and are in the process of registering a travel agent.