Micro to medium enterprises and would-be entrepreneurs get an overview of the different services of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during the three-day Negosyo, Konsyumer at Iba Pa caravan in Cebu from June 9-11, 2016.
The three-day event aims to equip micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as those who aspire to start their own business with additional learning on such topics as food safety, e-commerce, intellectual property, financing, and global markets, said DTI Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr.
“Early this year, we decided to put together all services and products of DTI and make them more effective for MSMEs,” he said during the opening of the event in Cebu on Thursday, adding that those who come to the caravan can access a range of information–from the basic requirements for starting a business to accessing markets.
DTI products, services
Cristobal added that aside from raising awareness on DTI activities, the Negosyo, Konsyumer at Iba Pa event allows the agency to bring its partners together and provides an opportunity for calibrating and synchronizing its different services.
In case of access to financing, which is the main challenge for small businesses, DTI has included the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.) in the caravan. SB Corp. caters to the segment that cannot yet be served by banks, which require collaterals for business loans.
SB Corp. president and chief executive officer Bartholomew Brillo L. Reynes said the state-owned financial institution has loaned out P600 million of its P2 billion portfolio. In Cebu, he added, they’ve provided loans to poultry businesses in Bantayan hard hit by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Negosyo, Konsyumer caravan
There will be trainings and simultaneous sessions up to Saturday, June 11, and booths where interested participants can have personalized consultation with experts, said DTI Central Visayas Regional Director Aster C. Caberte.
Breakout workshops set for tomorrow, Friday, include expanding businesses through e-commerce, online marketing, food safety, intellectual property rights and capability building. On Saturday, participants can pick from the following topics: effective business branding, integrating into the global market, and the Slingshot program for startups and innovators.
The maker trainings happening on Friday and Saturday will tackle basic digital fabrication technology and material manipulation as well as design modeling using state-of-the-art fabrication equipment at the newly launched FabLab in UP Cebu. The open access FabLab has a 3D printer, laser cutter, printer and cutter, desktop vinyl cutter, CNC router (shopbot), and small CNC Benchtop milling machine. DTI also launched on Thursday, June 18, the Negosyo Center at UP Cebu that includes a co-working space and training room. DTI said it will come out with the policies for the use of these shared services soon.
