A GERMAN ministry has partnered with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in a project that aims to further strengthen the business chambers and the small and medium enterprise sector in the Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funds the Working for Enhancement of the Chamber and Association Network in the Visayas and Caraga (We Can Visayas & Caraga) project through the Foundation for Economic Development and Vocational Training (SEQUA).

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SEQUA has appointed the Federation of Catholic Entrepreneurs, whose project implementation arm is the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation, to work in partnership with CCCI in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Technical aid

“This project provides technical assistance, like training and consultancy, to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through partnerships with the business chambers they belong to,” said SEQUA project manager Simone Lehmann in a press conference yesterday.

AFOS resident representative Dr. Stephan Kunz said some of the training programs they will implement under the We Can Visayas and Caraga project are strategic planning, leadership and management training, and skills training in different fields, including handicraft, fashion accessories, food processing, aquaculture and tourism.

“The overall goal is to improve the business environment for SME development while the participating chambers and associations are in the position to maintain an improved service offer for the SMEs,” We Can steering committee chairman Jose Ng said.

The project will be implemented within three years, from August 2009 to July 2012, with possible extension of another three years if needed.

Since it started, AFOS and CCCI have already undertaken field assessments and data gathering, and consultative and planning workshops with participating chambers.

Coverage

Initially, the project will cover the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Western Visayas; Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Central Visayas; Samar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Eastern Visayas; and Bislig Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Caraga.

Kunz said they will eventually extend their technical assistance to other regions even before the possible extension of the project after 2012.

“There is a need for (such) support in other regions whose economic climate is different from each other,” he said.

Complementary

He added that We Can will complement existing projects and private sector development and promotion programs of German development agencies like the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the German Development Service (DED) in the country.

Other members of the We Can project management are incoming area vice president for the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Visayas Francis Monera and CCCI executive director Teresa Pono.