THE ongoing 8th Negros Business Week is highlighting the need for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Occidental to grow, a local business leader said.
Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) president Roberto Montelibano on Monday, July 10, said the activity is one way to encourage local producers to further promote their products and services.
Montelibano added that there is a pressing need for MSMEs to expand and scale up as financing companies and government banks are also looking at productivity growth in providing financial assistance and services like loans.
“Part of our current efforts with the Provincial Government in updating investment promotion is to help producers, especially those in municipalities and other cities, to expand,” he added.
This year’s Negros Business Week is participated by 19 MSMEs and local government units, which include Hinigaran, La Castellana, Bago, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Sagay, Bacolod, Cadiz and Silay.
Participating producers are Christel’s Garden, Guerrero Farm and Nature Park, Virgie’s Homemade Products, El Ideal, Fudmaster, Capriccio Deli Ristorante, Sun Life Financial, Rorish Marketing, and ECR Marketing.
Themed “Moving Up the Negros Island Region through MSMEs,” the activity, which will run until July 16, also includes seminars on marketing capabilities as well as costumer relations for local enterprises.
The annual activity is organized by the MBCCI along with partners City Government of Bacolod and Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.
The MBCCI continues to work on bridging MSMEs to bigger markets, Montelibano said.
He said the business chamber recognizes the challenges for small enterprises to grow, including the need for capitalization and acquire better market linkage.
“We are bringing some of these enterprises to various exhibitions outside the province. This is one of the continuing activities of MBCCI,” Montelibano added.