Sunday, July 29, 2007 SME development gets new impetus from harmonization plan
The governments of Canada and Germany recently formalized their support in the implementation of assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to make such programs more effective at the local level.
The Canadian International Development Agency (Cida) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The goal is to develop local SME plans that fit the national SME Plan through a process called “harmonization”.
Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland expressed optimism that the MOA will be a major step in “pursuing the harmonization of SME programs for the rest of the target regions and provinces” in creating a healthy business environment and investment climate particularly in the Visayas.
Recently endorsed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the six-year National SME Development Plan would serve as a vital component to improve the country’s GDP and create six to 10 million jobs by 2010.
Cida’s five-year project called Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkages Phase II (Pearl2) will be at the forefront of this SME assistance, having already supported more than 30 business support organizations (BSOs) and trade associations in the country.
As part of their projects, these BSOs are managing this year’s celebration of the annual SME Week with an exhibit of their services and programs at the Megamall.
Seventeen provinces and regions have already been part of the survey undertaken by the BSME in its pilot program.
The joint effort of Cida, GTZ and BSMED will strengthen the SME Plan to serve the more than 800,000 micro and SMEs dispersed nationwide. (Liza C. Leong/ Philexport News and Features/Sunnex)
