Moni Plus secures naming rights as Goroka Bilum Festival commits 10% income to community

The iconic Goroka Bilum Festival has entered a new chapter after securing Moni Plus as its official naming rights sponsor, while also committing 10 percent of its annual income to support the Alekano Zugusave Association Voice Inc.

The announcements were made on Thursday night at a signing ceremony at Channel Inn, Goroka, where Bilum Festival Director Florence Jaukae Kamel signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Association Chairman Sydney Walizopa. The event was witnessed by Moni Plus Managing Director Aho Baliki, association lawyer Nollen Amoie, and community leaders.

Ms Jaukae Kamel said the partnership would not only sustain the festival but also ensure its benefits flow directly to local communities.

“The Goroka Bilum Festival has grown into a platform that empowers women weavers, connects us to 54 global markets, and brings international tourism to Goroka. With Moni Plus’ support, we are now securing its future while giving back to the community,” she said.

Each year, more than 1,000 women from across Papua New Guinea travel to Goroka to showcase and sell bilums, making the festival one of the country’s most significant cultural and economic gatherings. Bilums from Goroka are now sold in Australia, the US, the UK, and Italy, with the biggest exporter based in Sydney.

Mr Baliki confirmed Moni Plus’ sponsorship and naming rights for the 2025 Moni Plus Bilum Festival, praising the initiative for transforming women’s lives through income generation.

“Florence has done an outstanding job in helping mothers earn from their bilums. Moni Plus is proud to support this vision, and we welcome the commitment to donate 10 percent of festival income to the Alekano Zugusave Association,” he said.

The Goroka Bilum Festival, first staged in 2008, continues to grow as both a cultural showcase and a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment.