The Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and Port Moresby Technical College (POMTECH) have successfully hosted their first ever joint Industry Trade Fair.
The Trade Fair held on Wednesday 27 February, opened the PomTech and APTC shared campus to 40 industry representatives.
The fair showcased the PNG-Australia Partnership which dates back to the 1950’s when POMTECH, known then as Idubada Technical Training Centre, received its first Australian supported student scholarships.
The trade fair highlighted quality facilities and training, and the ever growing partnership between the Papua New Guinean and Australian instituitions and their students.
There were 17 trades on display, including Light Vehicle Automotive Mechanics, Carpentry, Printing and Commercial Cookery and industry representatives observed students studying and training in their specific trades.
Both instituitions hope the Fair would allow for stronger partnerships with industries and that these partnerships will see graduating students receiving skills to meet industry needs.
PomTech Principal Mr Henry Wamaingu said, "The trade fair demonstrated a very positive partnership between APTC and POMTECH in delivering demand driven and high-quality skills training in Papua New Guinea. It was an opportunity for industries to see for themselves the state of the art facilities and the training we conduct for our students'.
APTC Country Director, Dr Brad Shaw said, “It was a great success and it put a stamp on the great partnership POMTECH and APTC have.
The positive feedback from the Fair has been overwhelming and places both partners well moving forward in terms of maximising the POMTECH National Certificate and APTC students’ success in gaining employment once they complete their TVET programs”.
The Australian Government supportst the development of PNG's skilled workers through the PNG-Australia Partnership and activities of APTC adn POMTECH.