The Department of Trade & Industry is holding the Small-Medium Enterprise Roving Academy activity on Oct. 9 at Bethel Guest House.
According to Javier R. Fortunato Jr., DTI provincial director, the activity aims to help SMEs in the Province become more competitive by engaging and enrolling them in a seven-stage development process.
The seven stages are: Start-up & Capability-Building, Market Awareness, Market Readiness, Export Readiness, Export Market Entry, Export Sustainability, and Export Expansion.
Fortunato explained that the SMEs will be enrolled in a particular stage where they will be able to access a range of assistance and services from other government agencies and the private sector.
DTI is currently extending trainings, consultancy, and market promotion to enable SMEs to graduate to the next stage.
Fortunato cited that some products in the Province like muscovado are currently being sold in Japan and Korea; dehydrated fruits exported all over Asia and soon in Europe.
“Through this SME Roving Academy, we hope we will be able to see more ‘Made in Negros Oriental, Philippines’ products in the world market,” Fortunato said.
On Oct. 9, DTI Regional Director Asteria Cabarte will grace the activity in Dumaguete. Other speakers include Rose Marie Castillo, chief of the food division of the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion; Miriam Bacalso, regional coordinator of the Promotion for Green Economic Development of the GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation); Libia de Lima Chavez, executive director of the Philippine School of Culinary Arts; and Jorge Weineke, franchising consultant of Go Negosyo.
