Tuesday, November 04, 2008 DTI expects 50 new product designs for SMEs
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Southern Mindanao is expecting 50 new product designs to come out within the year that will be initiated by the region's Designers' Pool -- a team composed of 10 young entrepreneurs who will render free consultation for the small and medium enterprises' (SMEs) productivity.
In a recent interview with Marizon Loreto, acting regional director of the DTI-Southern Mindanao, she said that each member of the Designers' Pool is set to initiate five new product designs to different SMEs in the region.
"The provincial offices will be the one to identify the SMEs which will be enrolled for the consultation. Right now, the Designers' Pool have a quota of five SMEs per designer," Loreto said.
Loreto added that DTI coordinated with the SMEs and the private sector for the realization of the team. The team, she said, is made up of entrepreneurs who are engaged in selling and designing handmade novelty items, jewelry, furniture, and others.
"The designers were carefully selected; they embarked on a 10-day training program in Manila. Their designs are executed by SMEs," Loreto said, adding that the creation of the Designers' Pool in the region is an advantage to the SMEs because they don't have to pay designers from Manila just to acquire new designs.
Meanwhile, Leny Castillo, one of the members of the Designers' Pool, said it is a privilege to be part of the team.
"It is a great experience especially when you are able to talk to entrepreneurs and share your expertise with them," she said, adding that she was able to provide consultation for product design improvement to SMEs in Compostela Valley Province and to Davao del Sur.
The DTI Designers' Pool was launched during the opening of the 10th Davao Trade Expo (Date) 2008 on October 23. The team joined in the expo by showcasing the different product designs they had for the SMEs.
Loreto added that DTI will also train new batches of designers in the future to sustain the program.
"For a year, these designers will render their services for free, but we will also help them acquire some contract for SMEs. Not only SMEs of Davao can avail of their expertise, but those in other regions as well," Loreto said. (JGRS)
