National MSME Summit to tackle AEC preparation

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 18 – The National MSME Summit is set to tackle matters that will further prepare the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) implementation next year.

Slated at SMX Convention Center here on August 20-21, the conference will feature resource speakers, who are experts in their respective fields, who will talk about the present state of the Philippine MSMEs as well as innovative strategies to address the gaps confronting them.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Regional Operations Zenaida C. Maglaya will be presenting the Updated MSME Development Plan 2014-2016 and the current situation of the MSMEs in the country.

The one-and-a-half-day event will be divided into four sessions, to wit: Moving Up the Value Chain; Finance Operation and Better Financial Management; Fresh and Processed Foods – Strengthening the Philippines as Food Basket; and Furniture and Crafts Galore – Competitiveness thru Creativity, Ingenuity, and Innovation.

For the first session, topics on Priming Industry Clusters for AEC 2015 and Innovative LGU Support to MSMEs will be discussed.

For the second session, topics will be on micro-finance programs. Both the third and fourth sessions will focus on the presentation and sharing of business experiences, challenges, and best practices by key experts in the fresh and processed food and furniture industries.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 Officer-in-Charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi said MSMEs must take advantage of this opportunity to gather sound inputs under one venue.

“Our speakers are notable in their respective fields, and it’s a rare opportunity that all of them are gathered in the same venue because of their ever hectic schedules. But because they are committed in helping our MSMEs, they have managed to allocate time for them to share their ideas during the Summit,” she said.

The gathering is being organized by DTI, in partnership with the National MSME Development Council.

Interested participants may contact the DTI office nearest them for additional details about the event. In Davao City, they can reach DTI-Davao City Field Office at (082) 224-0511 local 201 or the Regional Trade and MSME Development Division (TMSMEDD) at (082) 224-0511 local 415, or email at msmesummit2014@gmail.com and/or r11@dti.gov.ph. (DTI-11/Jenny Mendoza)

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