CNMI women invited SPC regional training

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community of New Caledonia, has invited the CNMI government to nominate women who are involved in the development of the seafood industry but lack the technical experience in business management.

Responding to a recommendation from the 25th Regional Technical Meeting on Fisheries in 1994, the Fisheries Training Section of SPC in 1995 developed and run a series of regional and national courses and workshops targeting managerial positions within Pacific Island fisheries enterprise.

In collaboration with the New Zealand School of Fisheries, six regional courses for enterprise managers and commercial fishing skipper have been offered in New Zealand from March 1997 and April 2000.

The first enterprise management course specifically targeting Pacific Island women was successfully implemented in April/May 1999, with financial support from the governments of Australia and France.

The SPC Fisheries Training Section wishes to continue delivering such training programs which target commercial fisheries enterprises in the Pacific, with the aim of assisting an emerging regional fishing industry and as a means of creating job opportunities.

As it is with other job opportunities throughout the Pacific, women are playing an increasing role in the development of seafood industry but their progress and promotion is often hampered by a lack of technical experience in business management.

It is envisioned that with the experience of seafood industry in New Zealand and the excellent base provided by the New Zealand School of Fisheries, new skills in all aspects of seafood business operation and management will be realized.

The overall objective of the training course is to provide Pacific Island women who are involved in the operation and management of a large seafood enterprise, with a unique learning experience which will upgrade their technical skills and assist them develop strategies for enhancing the commercial viability of their enterprise.

Final selection by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community will be made after Sept. 15, 2000. Deadline for submission of CNMI nomination by the Office of the Governor is Sept. 3, 2000.

Those interested to participate and have met the qualification requirements may contact the Women’s Affairs Office on Saipan at 288-4102 or 288-7365; or on Rota at 532-0421; or on Tinian at 433-4102 during regular working hours.