Women play a key role in Pacific economies. They however operate largely in the fragmented informal sector where the lack of organisation, management, quality orientation, and access to markets jeopardize their capacity to grow and develop their businesses; in turn undermining the region's potential to use trade as a driver of growth, employment and poverty reduction.The purpose of the partnership is to provide businesswomen with the capacity to capitalise on potential opportunities to participate in formal markets, and as a result increase the economic benefits businesswomen in the Pacific region derive from their participation in trade. This is expected to contribute to improved livelihoods and poverty reduction for Pacific women and their communities.Support to Papua New Guinea's women Bilum producers has high potential given the prevalence of women in the sector, the existing traditional knowledge for twisting Bilum, and the marketability of hand-twisted fabric in international markets due to its uniqueness and appeal.While current exports of Bilum is low and not well organised, there is a firm interest from identified buyers and designers to make in Papua New Guinea high-end products using the Bilum technique. The buyers have expressed an interest in being involved in helping women Bilum producers achieve the necessary level of quality. Thus, the producers will become partners instead of being subcontractors as is usually the case in the fashion industry even in the ethical segment, and greater value will be created and more importantly retained at the producer level.The partnership will implement a project developed with the support of Pacific Island Trade & Invest (PT&I) building on their existing initiatives in Papua New Guinea, and will also rely on the University of Goroka.

International Trade Centre (ITC) World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Australian Government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Government of Papua New Guinea Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC), Papua New Guinea Associations of Bilum producers in Papua New Guinea's highlands