TWENTY-five small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Negros Occidental are seen to get a boost through a training on digital marketing and electronic commerce (e-commerce) by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The activity, which is in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will be conducted in Cadiz City from September 11 to November 6, 2018.

Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the "face to face" training will be good for 12 days, or two days every week.

Another 21 days for online sessions will be conducted for the participants through the help of a professional trainer, Tupas said.

The DTI is identifying 25 SMEs in the province, which will include its Negosyo Center staff.

The DICT, for its part, will also identify 25 students as part of the participants.

"This initiative is aimed at empowering our SMEs," he said, adding that this is already the second batch of the recipients as the activity was also conducted in San Carlos City in 2017.

By teaching local entrepreneurs digital marketing and online platform for business, they are given the opportunity to increase their sales.

Through this training, Tupas said SMEs are enabled to make their products more accessible to the clients.

"With strong market competition, innovation is very important. Part of which is making their products digitally available," he said, adding that "it would make them more competitive as they can tap more potentials buyers."

Interested entrepreneurs are urged to inquire at DTI-Negros Occidental or Negosyo Center in Cadiz City.