Supa V stoa concept touches down in Saroa

Caption 1 & 2: Customer swarming the newly opened Supa V Stoa at Saroa

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, April 20, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE Supa V Stoa concept has touched down in yet another Central Province village, with the latest of the Super Values Stores (SVS) partnered concept opened in the Rigo District village of Saroa, last week.

With total number of stores opened under the arrangement now at 15- the shop in Saroa is the third opened in the province so far, the others at Tubuserea and Tauruba.

Also thanks to the opening of the store, villagers now have easy access to banking services provided by Bank South Pacific through purchasing goods via bank cards, making deposits, and withdrawing funds.

With major partners in Trukai, Colgate Palmolive, Coca Cola, Hugo Canning and Digicel on show at the opening- villagers were treated to giveaway promotions which included the opportunity to get free mobile credits and the setting up of accounts offered by BSP.

Speaking to the villagers of Saroa, Supa V Stoa Project Manager Patricia Kassman, said that with the rollout of the project around the country, it seemed fair that Rigo got a store, as one of the districts that helps to feed the city of Port Moresby with fresh garden produce.

“You people from Rigo are the ones that help to feed Port Moresby with the fresh produce you ferry down to the city,” Kassman said.

She added that the store was there to service the community, and encourage them to shop there as the prices are affordable.

“It is important for the people of Saroa to know that this shop is for you, and whatever you spend still comes back to benefit you through assistance in various community activities.”

Proud operators Gina and Julie Vari, were excited and thankful of the whole concept, which they said had given them the opportunity to go into business in the packaged arrangement.

“This is an opportunity for us to not only help ourselves, but also our community as well and as a backup for our families as well,” Gina said.

He, however, said that compare to the support received by the operators in Port Moresby through NCD Governor Powes Parkop with start-up capital- it was unfortunate that similar assistance was not given by the Governor of Central and the local MP for Rigo.

“Unlike the Motu-Koitas being assisted by NCDC (National Capital District Commission), we had to put up our own start-up capital through getting a loan,” he said.

“Are they going to empower the people to get into business ventures, because these are the same business concepts that will give back to the communities where they are set up.”

Mr Vari called on both the Governor of Central Kila Haoda, and Rigo MP Ano Pala to get on board with SVS and create opportunities for the people of Central and Rigo District.

Other villages in the district to opens Supa V Stoas soon include Babaka Village and Kalo, as part of a nationwide rollout aimed at establishing 3000 Supa Stoas across the country.