by admin | Oct 13, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), emphasized the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as providers of employment and drivers of the country’s economic growth.
“The significance of micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as major economic drivers is beyond question. Their sheer number is overwhelming, as they account for 98% or more of all enterprises in most countries. Recent empirical studies show that MSMEs contribute to over 55% of GDP and over 65% of total employment in high-income countries,” DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said before World Trade Organization (WTO) members called “Friends of MSMEs” at “The Case of MSMEs in Inclusive Trade For Sustainable Development in Geneva, Switzerland.
Maglaya explained that MSMEs are underrepresented in international trade in a globalised world. But as a silverlining, there is a growing number of MSMEs who supply the export market either directly or indirectly by being involved in the production of parts and components for regional and global value chains serving large producers locally or abroad.
Maglaya added that when MSMEs do export, they contribute considerably to their country’s total GDP.
The DTI official also stressed the need to address the hurdles being faced by MSMEs in the international level. As a solution, the Philippines have pointed out several keys to help MSMEs hurdle these problems.
Maglaya pointed out the following steps being done by the Philippines such as providing access to innovation and technology, access to finance, access to skilled workers, and access to markets, particularly to export markets.
PH hosting of ASEAN
With Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN this 2017, Economic Ministers from member countries welcomed the success of the Philippine economic priority deliverables which sought to provide enabling policies to allow greater maximization of opportunities for MSMEs such as:
- The endorsement of the ASEAN Inclusive Business Framework which will allow companies to engage the poor and low-income communities as partners in their supply chains.
- Substantial progress towards the completion of the Focused and Strategic (FAST) Action Agenda on Investment, with a business matching activity “Linking ASEAN MSMEs with Global and ASEAN MNEs” scheduled on 19 October in Manila.
- Progress made in the negotiations for the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) which will foster a more facilitative and transparent trade in services and harness the contribution and global competitiveness of the ASEAN services sector and looked forward to its substantial conclusion by end of 2017, as well as the implementation of the full and comprehensive Country Visit in the Philippines in October 2017.
- ASEAN agreed to submit the Action Agenda on Mainstreaming Women Economic Empowerment in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to mainstream and give greater focus on the contribution and participation of women and youth in the region’s economic activities.
- The endorsement of the ASEAN Declaration on Innovation by the ASEAN’s Science and Technology Ministers, that seeks to support an ecosystem of entrepreneurship based on technology and innovation and establish cooperation in the region to strengthen the regional competitiveness in innovation.
- The launch of the maiden voyage of the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) Davao General Santos-Bitung route by President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesia President Joko Widodo on 30 April in Davao City, which will enhance intra regional connectivity and bolstering socio-economic growth in the regions.
- Because of the important role that MSMEs play in sustaining employment and generating GDP, governments around the world have given substantial attention to developing policies designed to support this sector.
According to Maglaya, the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship allowed MSMEs to be highlighted in the adopted Manila Call to Action (MCA) during the ASEAN MSME Development Summit in July.
The MCA seeks to pursue affirmative actions for a holistic strategy through the 7Ms for MSME development, namely mindset, mastery, mentoring, money, machines, markets and models.
The strategy will equip even the smallest entrepreneurs to be success and innovation driven as well as pro-active in developing their businesses and become better entrepreneurs, Maglaya said.
The Public Forum is the WTO’s largest annual outreach event, which provides a platform for participants to discuss the latest developments in world trade and to propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system. The 3-day event attracts over 2,000 participants from civil society, academia, business, the media, governments, parliamentarians and inter-governmental organizations.
by admin | Oct 13, 2017 | Headlines, National News
The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) led by its Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab, met with the Islamic D”wa Council of the Philippines (IDCP), one of the internationally recognized Islamic organizations in the country as well as the academic community, represented by UP Institute of Islamic Studies Dean Macrina Morados, to exchange views on providing support to the capability building interventions towards the development of the Halal industry in the Philippines.
With a shared need for awareness on Halal and cultivating cultural sensitivity among Filipinos towards Islamic sensibilities, the PTTC and the UP Institute of Islamic Studies agreed to collaborate, with the participation of IDCP representatives Shajid Linzag and Genie Romarate, on a Certification Program Training on Halal Assurance System (HAS) with emphasis on prioritizing Halal Integrity among the country’s MSMEs.
A Halal Training Plan was likewise shared by ED Palabyab which covered the complete value chain from Islamic Finance, Investments, to Halal Eco zones, Logistics, Production, to Processing, Services, Marketing and Promotion to Consumption.
In photo from L to R: Philippine Trade Training Center Engineer Menandro Ortego, PTTC Senior Officer Jezel Sunga, Shajid Linzag of the Islamic D’wa Council of the Philippines, PTTC Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab, PTTC Planning Officer V Ms. Fe Avila, UP College of Islamic Studies Dean Macrina Morados and Halal Auditor Genie Romarate.
In photo from L to R: Philippine Trade Training Center Engineer Menandro Ortego, PTTC Senior Officer Jezel Sunga, Shajid Linzag of the Islamic D’wa Council of the Philippines, PTTC Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab, PTTC Planning Officer V Ms. Fe Avila, UP College of Islamic Studies Dean Macrina Morados and Halal Auditor Genie Romarate.
by admin | Oct 13, 2017 | Business, National News
ZAMBOANGA—During the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) official launch of Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) on 6 October in the Zamboanga Peninsula, the country’s trade chief called on locals to maximize the use of government programs to create businesses and gain employment to empower themselves.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez highlighted the government’s initiatives to extend to all Filipinos the benefits of the current Philippine economic growth by strengthening the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), creating robust industries, and boosting investments. These, in turn, will lead to job generation and sustained entrepreneurial revolution, according to him.
“TNK’s goal is to create a culture of Filipinos who are success-driven, independent, and know how to appreciate the value put on one’s work. The core of the program is to empower the bottom of the pyramid to empower the nation,” said Sec. Lopez.
He shared that the business confidence index of the Philippines is at 38%, which has an impact on various industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and export.
DTI is currently using the 7Ms of Successful Entrepreneurs framework (Mindset, Mastery, Mentoring, Money, Machine, Market, and Models) as a strategic approach to empower entrepreneurs and encourage Filipinos to start their own businesses, thus helping them improve the quality of life.
Apart from national and international trade fairs, there are partnerships with premier malls, shopping destinations, as well as airports to enhance market access for local entrepreneurs through the Go Lokal! stores and other pasalubong centers.
These Go Lokal! stores and pasalubong centers serve as incubation stores for MSMEs where their products gain public exposure for free before they enter bigger markets.
MSMEs were also encouraged to utilize the government’s business expansion program through the Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or the P3 program, which offers low-interest financial assistance via recognized micro financing institutions.
Further, the trade chief called on officials from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units to provide spaces in their respective public markets for MSME products and entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, at the sidelines of the TNK launch, Sec. Lopez also attended the Zamboanga Peninsula Investment Conference, wherein he encouraged stakeholders to continue partnering with the government in raising the investment profile of the region and improving the investment climate.
“We can address inequality and reduce poverty by implementing programs that sustainably create jobs and increase incomes through exports and investments, as well as through smart, innovation-led entrepreneurship,” he said.
Also at the event were DTI Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod, Small Business (SB) Corporation President Maria Luna Cacanando, as well as Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Wilter Yap Palma, Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, Zamboanga City 1stDistrict Representative Celso Lobregat, and 2nd District Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe.
(L to R) DTI Undersecretary Rowel Barba, DOLE Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, DTI-Region 9 Director Sitti Jain, Indonesian Consulate General Berlian Napitupulu, and DOLE-Region 9 Director Ofelia Domingo at the opening of ZAMPEX 2017 in Zamboanga City.
by admin | Oct 13, 2017 | Photo Story
DTI EXPLORES E-COMMERCE CHANNELS FOR MSMES WITH LAZADA, ALIBABA. To push for greater multi-channel retailing, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez met with Alibaba Group President Michael Evans and Lazada Philippines Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Inanc Balci on 11 October to explore online retailing opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Sec. Lopez opened the possibility of using online platform such as Lazada as a marketing venue for products of local entrepreneurs. “We want to improve market access for our MSMEs, and through e-commerce, their products can gain more exposure and reach more buyers,” shared Sec. Lopez. Lazada Philippines, on the other hand, expressed its intent to partner with DTI for a project, which will deal with microsellers cooperative in the Philippines. As the major stockholder of Lazada, Alibaba Group’s Michael Evans supported the proposed project of one of the leading online selling platforms in the Philippines. In the photo are (L to R) Lazada Group Chief Operating Officer Pierre Poignant, Romulo Law Firm’s Atty. Marie Antonette Quiogue, Alibaba Group President Michael Evans, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Alibaba Group Vice President Eric Pelletier, DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado, and Lazada Philippines Co-Founder and CEO Inanc Balci.
by admin | Oct 11, 2017 | Business, National News
Philippines’ finest products are on display as the country participates at the World Food And Beverage Great EXpo (FABEX) Kansai 2017 happening from 11-13 October 2017 at the International Exhibition Center (Intex) Osaka. FABEX Kansai is Japan’s largest general trade fair for commercial food, cooking ingredients, equipment, and containers.
Organized by the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry, through its Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Osaka, and the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), the country’s delegation is showcasing an array of food products, food supplements, food machinery and various kinds of farm produce at the three-day event.
According to DTI-EMB Assistant Director Agnes Legaspi, who leads the business delegation from Manila, the delegation composed of 18 Filipino companies will also visit Tokyo to meet with Japanese importers. This business mission aims to promote the Philippines as a reliable supplier of high quality food products.
“Japan is among our top trading partner and we want to maximize their keen interest on doing business with the Philippines by increasing our promotion efforts of our products and services,” said DTI-EMB Assistant Director Legaspi.
The participating Philippine companies are Aisha-Fil Foods Inc., Amarich Marketing International, Chocovron Global Corporation, Cocoplus Aquarian Development Corporation, D’Farmers Market Fruits and Pastries Center, Greenland Asparagus Multi Purpose Cooperative, Healthy Sweets Mindanao Corporation, J. Emmanuel Pastries, John N’ Mico Food Products, and Mapagmahal Foods.
Also joining are Mardak Global Export Incorporate, Muy Bien Ventures Co., Incorporated, Nattural Quality Corporation, Nisco Philippines Enterprise, Pasciolco Agri Ventures, Philippine Moringa & More Corporation, Philippine Seawealth Food Incorporated, Sangkutsa Food Products Incorporated.
In addition to the Philippine exhibition in FABEX Kansai 2017, government officials who are part of the delegation discussed doing business with the Philippines in a seminar entitled “Philippine Seminar on Business Opportunities on Agriculture and Logistics” organized by the Osaka Port Promotion Association.
