Government organizes SME development agenda

MANILA, Philippines -  The government has organized a Small Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Summit to serve as a springboard for the SME Development Agenda of the Aquino administration.

The SME Summit which will be held next month is only part of the weeklong activity during the SME Development Week.

The SME Summit is expected to bring together entrepreneurs, MSMED Council members, local government units, trade and industry associations, business development services providers, and other SME advocates.

The morning plenary session, which will showcase SME Success Stories, will focus on how private and public sector partnership can nurture award-winning, world-class businesses from ordinary citizens.

The first plenary session will highlight an Enabling Business Environment as one of the key components for SME success. Lined up as resource persons are Jose Sales de Villa, proprietor of Giga Enterprises, an award-winning producer of organic wellness products; Emilio Tingson, a licensing officer from Ormoc City; and Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr., chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The next sharing session on Access to Finance will start off with a presentation by Rommel T. Juan, president and chief executive officer of Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc., a local fastfood chain serving favorite Pinoy dishes wrapped in banana leaves.  After him will follow Dr. Ramon Quesada, chairman of the Small Business Corporation, a government agency that provides liquidity support and financing facilities for SMEs. The third speaker will be Agnes Angeles, a senior vice-president of Planters Development Bank, a privately-owned bank offering products and services specially geared for SME promotion.

The third sharing session, on Access to Markets, will start off with Venus C. Genson Ph. D., managing partner of Venus Crafts, an exporter of fine Philippine furniture. Rosario Virginia C. Gaetos, executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) will also discuss the programs and services for promoting Filipino exports, while Josephine T. Locsin, president of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) will present their experiences in expanding their market presence.

The final session on Productivity and Efficiency, will have the following speakers: Ret. Col. Virgilio C. Jose of Vjandep Bakeshop, based in Camiguin Island, will share how their shanty-like factory was able to expand into a modern production facility with assistance from the Department of Science & Technology (DOST). His talk will be complemented by presentations from Dr. Teresita C. Fortuna, NCR regional director of the DOST, and Joel C. Amante, president of the Philippine Total Quality Management Foundation as resource persons.