ExxonMobil PNG announces 2018 SME Digital Innovation Awards

• Awards to recognise digital technology innovation usage by micro, small and medium enterprises
• Award nominees to receive complimentary IBBM Enterprise Centre business assessment
• Winners announced at ABAC MSME Summit in September

Port Moresby: ExxonMobil PNG Limited, operator of the PNG LNG Project, has announced the inaugural SME Digital Innovation Awards in partnership with the IBBM Enterprise Centre that is set to recognise achievements of Papua New Guinean businesses contributing to digital innovation.

The 2018 SME Digital Innovation Awards will be presented at the PNG APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Summit and will be focused on SMEs that utilise digital technology innovation as part of their processes, or that provide a service using technology.

Awards will be presented across three categories including micro, small and medium enterprises.

ExxonMobil PNG Managing Director Andrew Barry said ExxonMobil PNG is committed to recognising and encouraging SMEs that use technology platforms to continue evolving in an ever-growing digital world.

“It is important that we, as a company, contribute to developing capacity, and assist smaller organisations to remain competitive and ensure equal participation in economic activities,” Barry said. “The digital innovation awards will encourage MSMEs to be creative and diversify into operational areas that utilise technology to ensure growth and sustainability across the country.”

The 2018 SME Digital Innovation Awards are sponsored by ExxonMobil PNG and managed by its long-standing partner, the IBBM Enterprise Centre. Through ExxonMobil PNG’s partnership with IBBM, more than 19,000 entrepreneurs and local businesses have been supported since 2010 and 32,000 training days and nearly 500 business assessments have been conducted at the Enterprise Centre. 

ExxonMobil PNG continues to invest in local businesses with almost 2.3 billion Kina spent on Papua New Guinean services, including 581.6 million Kina spent with landowner companies since the start of production.

Award submissions are open to micro, small and medium businesses operating in Papua New Guinea. Each business who applies and is nominated for an award will receive a complimentary business assessment by IBBM as part of their submission.

Award winners will be announced at the ABAC MSME Summit being held in Port Moresby from 10 – 11 September 2018. Winners will receive training provided by the IBBM Enterprise Centre and equipment to support future digital endeavors.

Finalists from the 2018 SME Digital Innovation Award will be nominated as finalists in the 2019 IBBM Biennial SME Awards under the digital innovation category.

For more information on the SME Digital Innovation Award please visit: http://www.ibbm.com.pg/ibbm-enterprise-centre/