|
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Project, funding ready for MSMEs in Visayas
The German government will pour about euro30 million in the country for the extension of a project that is designed to help small and medium enterprises.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (Smedsep) 2 will focus on areas in the Visayas, including Cebu, said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 Director Aster Caberte.
Focus
She said the second phase of the program, which has a budget of about euro30 million, will focus on owners and workers of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Visayas.
Smedsep 2 will begin this September and end in August 2009
Smedsep is a joint pro-ject of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Philippines. The first and the second phase will be implemented by the German Technical Cooperation, DTI and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority..
“We are happy because this time, Smedsep 2 will not be sector specific. It will focus on local reforms in the business and investment climate aside from assisting the DTI provincial offices and local business associations in the actualization of their business plans,” Caberte said in an interview.
The second phase of Smedsep will include providing financial services to target groups.
According to the financial services concept for Smedsep 2, posted on its website, the second phase will also involve providing support to partner banks that can extend loans to MSMEs.
Smedsep 1, which kicked-off in September last year and will end this year, focused on helping SMEs in Cebu take advantage of information technology.
Challenges
Smedsep 1 also provided assistance in tourism in Negros Occidental and in local entrepreneurial development in Leyte.
The program aims to address the challenges faced by MSMEs. It seeks to enable public and private institutions to create favorable business conditions to develop entrepreneurial potential and encourage competition.
Smedsep 1 resulted in the establishment of the Cebu Web Portal Business Plan, which was accepted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 15, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
