CLARK FREEPORT -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, will be implementing programs and projects geared towards preparing small businesses for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution, otherwise known as the digital economy is changing our lives in ways we’ve never imagine. Our MSMEs (micro, small, medium enterprises) must face and understand new jargons and challenges such as the fusion of technologies and emergence of innovation in areas that are taking us by surprise including robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, nanotechnology, quantum computing and biotechnology,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said during the recent National MSME Summit 2018.

To prepare them, DTI and partners in the government and private sector strengthened the structure for MSME assistance through ease of doing business and Negosyo Centers; more funds for inclusive financing through Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso; and levelled-up mentoring support through Kapatid Mentor Me Program.

“Also, we expanded reach of technology and innovation support through shared service facilities and mainstreaming them in the domestic market through Go Lokal stores,” Lopez furthered.(Trixie Joy B. Manalili) (PIA-Central Luzon)