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Wednesday, June 23, 2004
DTI eyes 100 more SMEs
THE business sector aims to establish an additional 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the city through various activities and programs during the city's second business month celebration that started on Monday.
Nenita Barroso, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said they have prepared training for potential SMEs, investment forums and business matching activities between local entrepreneurs and companies that are planning to expand or establish franchises in the area.
"Right now there are a number of companies that have signified to come and explore possible investments in the area through partnerships with local SMEs," she said.
During the business month celebration last year, Barroso said they were able to match several companies with local investors and facilitated the forging of franchise agreements.
Among the major franchises established in the area last year were the popular ice cream retail store Fiorgelato and Iloilo City's famed Ted's Lapaz Batchoy restaurant.
The business month, which is slated until July 23, started Monday afternoon with the launching of a trade fair and exhibit at the newly opened KCC Mall of GenSan.
Dubbed "Yabong: Maliit na Negosyo" or Yaman GenSan 2004, the activity showcases the development of the SME sector in the city that essentially built the area's thriving economy over the years.
The activity is an initiative of the city's SME development council in coordination with the city government, DTI and other concerned government and non-government agencies.
Barroso said Yaman GenSan, created through city council Resolution 169 passed last year, is envisioned to facilitate access to technology and provide basic information and assistance to current and prospective entrepreneurs, initiate business development and promotion activities, link financing resources and link local SMEs with counterpart industry associations.
She said it also aims to: provide the policy environment, institutional mechanism and socio-political environment conducive to business promotion through entrepreneurship and technology training, seminars, conventions, congresses, fora, business matching, job fairs and sports competition.
The training and seminars include the Hazard and Critical Control Point or HACCP quality standards for local fish handlers and processors, Halal awareness, capability enhancement for local government units, consumer empowerment, construction management, cooperative leadership, bangus deboning, bakery production and management, basic organizing, fund raising and accessing for organizations.
Mayor Pedro Acharon said Yaman GenSan, which the city government is now moving to institutionalize, is the city government's response to the call of the local business sector to accelerate the development of the SME sector in the city.
"General Santos is largely an agri-industrial area and most of our business players here are the SMEs," he said.
The mayor said at least 97 percent of the city's businesses are SMEs. In 2003, DTI listed at least 9,000 micro, small and medium enterprises in the city through its business name registry.
Acharon, who was reelected for another term, said providing support to SMEs is one of the main thrusts of his administration over the next three years.
He said that by supporting the development of the SMEs, the city government could open up opportunities for economic development as well as employment.
(June 23, 2004 issue)
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