City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) is excited to announce its partnership with Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) to introduce its pilot programs aiming at delivering comprehensive Business Mentoring Program tailored to support women-led businesses in Papua New Guinea that is set to run from November 2024 to April 2025. The program officially launched its 1st in-person workshop on Monday 4 November, initiated for 4 days. Designed to enhance the business acumen, leadership skills, and operational strategies of women entrepreneurs. The Business Mentoring Programs is designed to enhance the business acumen, leadership skills, and operational strategies of women entrepreneurs. The programs will be a mix of in-person workshops and online mentoring and provide personalized guidance, practical tools with opportunities to build peer network that foster business growth and sustainability. Liz Mackinlay, ABV CEO, emphasized the significance of this partnership. "The Business Mentoring Program represents an essential focus for ABV—supporting women entrepreneurs in PNG through our ABV Business mentors.” “We are proud to help bring this vision to life with CPL Foundation to further the strengths and ambitions of women business leaders across PNG." Key features of the program include: Tailored Workshops: In-person training workshops to refine business strategies and management practices, aligned with the specific needs of each participant. Personalized Mentorship: Six months of one-on-one mentoring with Skilled Business Professional Zarah de la Cruz, supported by ABV and CPL Foundation teams. Participants will work towards their individual professional and business goals. Networking Opportunities: Building peer support networks among women entrepreneurs, enabling participants to share experiences and insights both online and in-person. ABV brings over 40 years of experience in delivering business support programs across the Asia-Pacific region, aimed at strengthening communities through business. Their expertise in capacity building, combined with CPL Foundation Inc, that has been Empowering women and girls since 2014 promises to create a lasting change for the participating business. This partnership with ABV aligns with its focus on fostering economic empowerment for women, ensuring that participants are equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed in a competitive business environment. “We are proud to partner with ABV on this exciting initiative,” said Deborah Alois, CPL Foundation Manager. “This program will not only provide women-led businesses with essential tools and mentoring but will also contribute to the broader development of PNG’s economy by fostering innovation and leadership among women entrepreneurs.”