by admin | Jul 10, 2018 | National News
One of the highlights during the US-ABC SME Workshop held at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) held on June 27, 2018 was the formal turnover to PTTC as the first country administrator of the ASEAN SME ACADEMY. The ceremonial turnover led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and the United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim as part of the celebration of the International SME Day encourages MSMEs to engage in an online training platform to digitize business in the country.
The DTI Secretary emphasized the importance of empowering MSMEs and increased connectivity through digitalization to build capacity and engender innovation by connecting to overseas market, compete worldwide, and be connected to regional and global value chains.
“We already have mentoring programs; we just need to take them online so they can train more MSMEs. We want to give them access to mentoring 24/7,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
PTTC as the Academy’s new administrator is committed to provide the best training support to the Philippines’ MSMEs and to the ASEAN SME community through networks of supportive partners in the Philippines’ NEGOSYO Centers; expanding its best practices to the rest of the ASEAN regions.
PTTC Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab said “Everybody here attending today’s event is either a provider of learning, a learner or both. The PTTC as the home of the ASEAN SME Academy is building a community where everyone may contribute to enable more capable SMEs to meet the challenge of the ever changing, complex and more competitive environment.”
The DTI and PTTC are optimistic that the Academy is in a greater position to uplift and advance the capacity of MSMEs to become smarter entrepreneurs with the ability to compete.
Also present to witness the turnover were the distinguished guests Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Alegria S. Limjoco, Philippines Senior Representative of the US-ABC Elizabeth Magsaysay-Crĕbassa, General Manager of Cisco Systems Singapore & Philippines Mr. Surendran Vangadasalma.
There was a livestreaming of the entire activity to selected DTI regional offices and Negosyo Centers. The same is available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmpGCSyyrgY.
In the above photo: Ceremonial handover of the ASEAN SME ACADEMY book, “Lessons from the ASEAN SME Academy,” from United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim to DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. In photo are PTTC Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab (6th from the left), Philippines Senior Representative of the US-ABC Elizabeth Magsaysay-Crĕbassa (7th from the left), representatives from DTI regions and Negosyo Centers, and ASEAN SME Academy facilitators.
by admin | Jul 10, 2018 | Business, Headlines
As part of the Philippine Trade Training Center’s yearly tradition of celebrating the MSME Development Week, the Center will once again offer free seminars to MSMEs on July 12-13, 2018 with the theme “Leveling Up MSMEs for Success and Growth.”
The first day focuses on merchandising on the web, “A Training on Digital Marketing” with resource persons from Google Singapore and Philippines. As a follow-through activity to this training, a Workshop Signing-up with Google My Business will allow entrepreneurs to own a website which will showcase their products and services. Participants attending this workshop are advised to bring their mobile devices.
For the afternoon session, a lecture series will be conducted by Lazada Philippines, one of the country’s top online selling platform, beginning with a refresher course on the basics of Ecommerce 101. Another session, “The Future of Shopping Using Facebook to Increase Sales” will touch on how social media accounts are used in marketing.
The second day of the seminar focuses on session series for food manufacturers and entrepreneurship development – “Enhancing Entrepreneurial Mindset”, “Establishing a Market Niche”, “Developing a Winning Product”, “Creating a Brand”, Food Product Development”, Food Engineering and Processing, to name a few. Kindly refer to the schedule of the seminars below.
For more information, you may contact telephone numbers 831-9988 or email train@pttc.gov.ph. You may also follow our facebook page, DTI.Philippine Trade Training Center. Registration is on the day of the seminar and on a first-come first-serve basis so make sure that you come early.
by admin | Jul 9, 2018 | Business, National News, Negosyo Center Updates
The Go Lokal! Stores, a project of the Department of Trade and Industry, is a market access platform for our MSME partners to gain access to the domestic mainstream market and ultimately, to the global export market. It is a showcase of Philippine products crafted, designed and manufactured by the country’s MSMEs.
In collaboration with government agencies and retail partners such as SM Kultura Makati, Rustan’s Makati, Robinson’s Place in Malate, Glorietta 2 of Ayala Mall, CityMalls nationwide, Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall and Enchanted Kingdom, Go Lokal! has assisted 315 MSMEs in more than 50 stores nationwide with 10 retail partners, generating sales of over Php30M in the past 16 months. 81 of these suppliers are now in the mainstream market.
Go Lokal! embarks on an exciting project that supports young entrepreneurs made up of makers and artists who turn their love of arts into a money making venture. By providing them creative space, these group of young artists give us their varying interpretations of Philippine culture and their everyday lives. Souvenir items like toys, trinkets, jewelry, and novelty items that have never been seen in the market are just a few of the products in this collection created by these dynamic groups of artists:
Common Room
Common Room is a shop where crafters and artists gather to sell their handmade goods. The Common Room curates a brand new collection of Philippine Souvenirs for Go Lokal! which features the artists’ fun and modern take on what they love about the Philippines, interpreted in toys, trinkets, paper products and fashion accessories.
Among the pieces in the exclusive Go Lokal! souvenir collection are fishball plush toys by Pop Junk Love, embroidered travelers’ patches by Fandom Feels, Philippine landmarks tattoos by Tattooic, Manila Traffic Survivor button pins by Ella Lama, and accessories with Philippine garden flowers by Life After Breakfast.
Team Manila
TeamManila is a graphic design studio that seeks to represent the Philippines in the design community. Taking inspiration and paying homage to the indigenous Filipino tribes, Habi Hiraya features a combination of intricately woven patterns from the Bagobo and Tinguian tribes, and leaf motifs called Uwes. Translated in Memphis design style with a modern TeamManila twist, a play of these elements were used to create a dynamic souvenir line.
In collaboration with established clients, TeamManila is currently working on projects ranging from branding, graphic design, merchandise, packaging, space and web design since 2002. Founded by Joseph ‘Jowee’ Alviar and Raymund ‘Mon’ Punzalan, TeamManila has also established its retail component together with multiple subbrands such as Daily Grind and Design Dept.
The Go Lokal! Souvenir Collection will be launched on July 19, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the Kiss and Fly, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminal 3). The Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez will inaugurate the event as Guest of Honor. Invited guests include DTI executives, government officials, airport officials, embassy officials, retail partners and suppliers.
Go Lokal! is also available online at http://golokal.marketa.ph/ and https://www.shopinas.com/go-lokal.
For more information on Go Lokal!, you may visit or call the Go Lokal Concept Store@DTI, Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions located at the Ground Floor, Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City at telephone nos. 751 3223 and 751 3229. Kindly look for Mabel Cortez and/or Bea Hernandez.
You may also visit the Go Lokal! website at golokal.dti.gov.ph.
by admin | Jul 9, 2018 | Headlines
Empowering and enabling small businesses are a priority of the administration’s economic development agenda since President Rodrigo Roa Duterte assumed office in 2016.
In support of the President’s commitment to the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, the MSME Development Council (MSMEDC), through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as MSMEDC Chair, is staging once again the National MSME Summit 2018 on 10 July 2018 at the ASEAN Convention Center located at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.
“This Summit will be a venue for our MSMEs, the backbone of the Philippine economy, to become more innovative and competitive in their businesses. With the continued support from both government and private sectors, we are enabling MSMEs and generating inclusive growth,” DTI Secretary and MSME Development Council Chair Ramon M. Lopez said.
With the theme “Accelerating 7Ms for Competitive MSMEs,” the Summit will present various opportunities and initiatives in gearing up for MSME competitiveness under the 7Ms framework which was introduced and supported by the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) on 14 July 2017, in line with the country’s hosting of ASEAN.
The 2017 ASEAN Summit has issued the Manila Call to Action (MCA) for MSME Development, carrying a more MSME-centric perspective with its 7-point framework aligned to the following elements of an entrepreneur’s journey, known as the 7Ms – Mindset Change, Mastery, Mentoring, Money, Machine, Market Access, and Models of Business.
Through 7Ms, MSMEs shall be assisted to develop a positive Mindset, to gain Mastery of their business, to provide quality business Mentorship, to facilitate access to Money, to improve access to domestic and international Markets, to provide quality Machines, and to be exposed to innovative Models of business.
“The MSMED Council, with DTI as its Chair, is focused on cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit among Filipinos. We are enabling our MSMEs to be innovative in their products and services to be able to compete in the local and global markets,” Secretary Lopez added.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to grace the Summit as a show of his administration’s continuing support to MSMEs.
Prominent industry leaders, youth, women entrepreneurs, and trailblazers are attending and speaking during the summit, sharing their expertise and even networking with entrepreneurs.
The Summit intends to gather 800 participants that consist of entrepreneurs, academe, enablers, business experts and other stakeholders nationwide. The attendees will gain fresh insights and inspiration from resource persons who are experts in their respective fields.
by admin | Jul 7, 2018 | Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY- Businessmen are now a step closer to achieving better performance in their businesses with the help of local stakeholders in government and private institutions.
Twenty-five (25) entrepreneurs from all over Bohol have been given backing and guidance from both sectors in ensuring the continuity and success of their businesses. Dubbed as “What Support Do We Need?”, the program kicks off with the participation of speakers coming from different national offices and financial institutions.Each of the speakers were given time to offer a helping hand to the entrepreneurs on what services they can give to them. The mentors include Ms. CelerinaGalorio of Department of Agriculture (DA), Ms. Rosemarie Bantol of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Ms. VinaAntopina, Provincial Director of Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Mr. Felicito P. Pono of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Business Counselor Roy Geolagon of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as representatives from Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Ms. Ma. Eloisa L. Medilo and First Consolidated Bank of Bohol’s Branch Managers Ms. Maria FejileaAñora and Ms. Julieta Saloma.
The Session was part of the activities of the Kapatid Mentor Me Program, a weekly mentoring series organized by DTI Bohol Provincial Office in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship that goes on for ten (10) sessions. Bankable entrepreneurs, called mentees, undergo coaching ranging from Marketing and Brand Imaging, Operations Management, Human Resource, to Taxation and Business Law. Seasoned experts from the aforementioned topics, mentor the said businessmen to equip them and create an advantage in their market. After the sessions, a break will be given for the businessmen to formulate their Business Improvement Plans (BIPs) which will be presented to a panel of experts before culminating in a graduation which will be held on July 27 as part of Sandugo Trade Expo.
Now on its second year, KMME has produced competent MSMEs such as Ms. Christine Virtucio of Virtucio Designs and Mr. Paolo Rigotti of Gelateria Milano.
A second run for 2018 will be held inTalibon on the third quarter. (photos by R. Geolagon and B. Besinga) –KACalumba
