Bead Craft Training Boosts Competitiveness of SMEs

The Sorong City Government, through the local National Crafts Council (Dekranasda), has officially opened an activity on the management and development of small-scale handicraft businesses using bead materials. The event took place at a hotel in Sorong, Southwest Papua (PBD), on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

The activity was directly opened by the Mayor of Sorong, Septinus Lobat, and was attended by 50 training participants.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Sorong expressed appreciation to the Sorong City Dekranasda for organising the event. He emphasised that the training represents a concrete step in driving economic growth among the community, particularly in the small and creative industry sector.

“Handicrafts based on beads have great potential, both in terms of creativity, economic value, and as part of local cultural identity. I hope the participants can enhance their skills, innovation, and product competitiveness to penetrate wider markets,” he stated.

He also added that the Sorong City Government will continue to support UMKM development through various empowerment programmes, training, and marketing facilitation, so that local products can compete at national and international levels.

Meanwhile, the General Chair of the Sorong City Dekranasda, Jemima Elisabeth Lobat, stated that the activity is a real effort to increase community economic independence, especially for female artisans.

According to her, bead handicrafts are one of the distinctive cultural heritages of Papua with high artistic value and great economic potential. With touches of creativity and innovation, these products are expected to have their own uniqueness and be able to compete with handicrafts from other regions.

“This activity is not only to add skills but also serves as initial capital for participants in developing businesses, either independently or in groups, thereby increasing family income,” she revealed.

As the closing of the event series, a tifa drum was beaten as a sign of the official start of the training. The Mayor of Sorong also pinned identification badges on the participants and handed over assistance in the form of one display case unit as support for the participants’ business development.