Mother of 4 takes on solar power business

PNG Loop 

“The most important especially is the Government’s advocacy on Public Private Partnership, rural electrification, women in business and the overall reduction of infant and maternal mortality”, Louisa said.

Mrs Saleu strongly believes that the government initiated SME so far has not worked well and commercial banks are too restrictive to small businesses.

She suggests that the Government should fully support her and countless others like her who have established their businesses from the ground up all on their own, with funds and logistics rather than filling people’s minds with empty promises in the media, especially in newspapers, radios and television.

Meanwhile, Louisa’s business is growing in popularity as people are realising the convenience of having solar lights installed in their homes and buildings.

As she says with a smile: “It is affordable, reliable, and constant and most importantly, it is environmentally friendly.”

For residents in Goroka who are interested in rural electrification using solar energy, this is an opportunity right at your door step.
Mrs Saleu can be contacted on telephone-532 9812, mobile-71652069.

- See more at: http://www.pngloop.com/2014/10/30/mother-4-takes-solar-power-business/#sthash.vzCJaIYB.dpuf

A longtime Goroka resident, and mother of four, is now an enterprising solar electricity supplier in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.
Mrs Lousie Saleu, who hails from Kilau village in the Salt Nomane Kariumu district of Simbu Province, sells and installs solar generated electricity, which include street LED lights.
Mentored by her husband Gerard Saleu, a medical researcher with the PNG Institute of Medical Research based in Goroka, Mrs Saleu says she was introduced to solar generated electricity while being temporarily employed by an Australian solar company in 2012.
She says she has lived her in Goroka for more than 28 years, and describes herself as ‘adventurous’ when it comes to creating her business.
She started as a shop keeper with the Collins and Leahy group of companies and later formed her own security company, Ebi Security.
She also tried road-side marketing to assist her husband with their children’s school fees but always came into conflict with the Goroka urban authorities.
That was probably the point where she decided to put her foot down and venture into selling and installing of solar lights as a business. The more she thought about it, the more interesting it sounded.
It was a gem of an idea because from that moment on, her ambitions to push for it to become a reality grew. Her perseverance for an opportunity in business was answered by her temporary employment with the Australian solar company which operated out of Lae and Goroka but no longer exists.
While she was employed with this organisation, Mrs. Saleu used her time to learn as much as possible to trade and install solar generated electricity.
It was a struggle but eventually, Louisa, assisted by her husband applied for and was granted a business licence through the Investment Promotion Authority of PNG in December 2012 and has been selling and installing solar electricity since.
Operating as AL – SOLAR Supplies, Mrs Saleu has a small team of technicians working around her.
They have made solar installations to several places in and around Goroka including the most recent one at the Mercy sisters convent along the Kama road, Bihute near Goroka.
She aims to fully participate in the Government’s initiated rural electrification program to provide solar generated electricity to homes, health centres, schools and churches throughout Papua New Guinea.
Mrs Saleu challenges the Government of PNG to support her and other small business owned and managed by women.
“The most important especially is the Government’s advocacy on Public Private Partnership, rural electrification, women in business and the overall reduction of infant and maternal mortality”, Louisa said.
Mrs Saleu strongly believes that the government initiated SME so far has not worked well and commercial banks are too restrictive to small businesses.
She suggests that the Government should fully support her and countless others like her who have established their businesses from the ground up all on their own, with funds and logistics rather than filling people’s minds with empty promises in the media, especially in newspapers, radios and television.
Meanwhile, Louisa’s business is growing in popularity as people are realising the convenience of having solar lights installed in their homes and buildings.
As she says with a smile: “It is affordable, reliable, and constant and most importantly, it is environmentally friendly.”
For residents in Goroka who are interested in rural electrification using solar energy, this is an opportunity right at your door step.
Mrs Saleu can be contacted on telephone-532 9812, mobile-71652069.
- See more at: http://www.pngloop.com/2014/10/30/mother-4-takes-solar-power-business/#sthash.vzCJaIYB.dpuf