SOCIAL networking giant Facebook is seeing a tremendous potential for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to capitalize on an increasingly growing mobile-first market.

The company launched in Cebu on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019 the Facebook Community Boost, a global initiative that aims to equip entrepreneurs with the social media tools and skills.

“Facebook gives people the power to build communities and bring the world closer together,” said John Rubio, Facebook’s country director for the Philippines.

Rubio said they aim to bring out MSMEs’ potential especially in the global market.

“We’re constantly inspired by what small businesses have been able to achieve using tools on Facebook and our family of apps. We look forward to taking Facebook Community Boost events to four Philippine cities this year starting in Cebu and then in Dumaguete, Manila and Davao. Our goal is to further support even more MSMEs and communities in their digital transformation journey,” he said.

The country’s MSME sector accounts for about 99.6 percent of businesses.

Maria Elena Arbon, assistant director at the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Visayas, said MSMEs can easily build their brands if they take advantage of social media platforms like Facebook.

Arbon urged small entreprenuers to shape up in their digital transformation journey and fully use the technology to bring their business to both local and global markets.

“People have to have the experience that’s why they have to have the physical presence but it’s not like before where you have so many branches in order to have your presence felt in the market,” she said.

Anya Lim, co-founder and managing director of the homegrown brand Anthill Fabric Gallery, shared how they used technology to help local communities of weavers put out products that contribute to cultural preservation.

“We are an ecosystem business model. It’s not enough that we invest so much time and capacity building on our weavers because we also have design collaborators and customers. Since the inception of Anthill, we really invested so much time in the community by building their trust and technology has a huge role to play in that because they live in far-flung villages,” she said.

Anthill’s digital presence allowed it to engage with customers online while showcasing their intricate designs to the global market. (JOB)