First MSME national confab slated

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the administration’s thrust to further develop the over 90 percent of businesses in the country, the Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BMSMED) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit Private Sector Promotion Program (GIZ PSP) are jointly organizing the first national conference.

The event which will be held on July 19 and 20, 2012 at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu, will be participated by at least 150 representatives of the National and Provincial MSMED Councils, officials from the DTI head office in Manila, and some 86 provinces nationwide.

 According to DTI the MSMEDC National Conference seeks to create greater awareness, commitment and action to the administration’s “Big Push” policy for MSME development; present the highlights of the DTI and GIZ PSP Program and its contribution to MSME development; clarify the functional mandates of the Provincial MSMED Councils (PSMEDCs); share and learn from good practices and exemplary initiatives; create and reinforce networks toward mutually beneficial partnerships.

DTI revealed the activities lined up for the conference that includes presentation of good practices such as the use of the GIZ Capacity WORKS management model and others exemplifying the delivery of the MSMEDC functions, namely: policy formulation, program advocacy, program coordination and integration.

There will also be a showcase of value chain and local regional economic development (LRED) approaches adapted in the implementation of the MSME Development Plan.

DTI added that exemplary initiatives of MSMEs on development global themes that include gender, climate change, migration and corporate social responsibility will be similarly tackled.

Provincial MSMED Councils policy, program, activity and projects (PPAPs) proposed by Provincial MSMED Councils (PSMEDCs) that need to be elevated for approval of national government agency will be packaged and endorsed by the National MSMEDC to the concerned office.

Knowledge products such as collaterals on the PPAPs that were introduced and implemented by the Provincial MSMED Councils will likewise be placed on exhibit as a side event during the Conference.

Members of the MSMED Council are the following: Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Tourism, Small Business Corporation, private sector representatives including MSME sector in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, banking sector and labor sector. (FREEMAN)