IMPROVING the marketability of Cagayan de Oro's micro, small, and medium enterprises' (MSMEs) products is given priority by the city council as it approved an ordinance which aims to help small entrepreneurs rise above the market competition.
The ordinance authorizes City Mayor Oscar Moreno to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories to continue with the MSME project under the 2014 Bottoms-Up-Budgeting program on Food Packaging and Labeling.
Councilor George Goking, chairperson of the committee on trade and commerce, said this collaboration is part of the city government's program on poverty alleviation.
Goking said improving the product packaging and labeling means more earnings for the small entrepreneurs in Cagayan de Oro.
Through the program, MSMEs can pack their products through the Food Innovation, Packaging and Labeling Center at the DOST, using modern packaging equipment, such as sachet packing, nylon printing and custom fitted packaging.
Under the memorandum, the city shall choose 52 MSMEs which will benefit the project while the DOST will carry out the laboratory processes.
The Department of Trade and Industry, through its initiative Pack! Pinas pushes for innovative packaging and branding for MSME products. The event is where MSMEs can learn the latest market trends and emerging opportunities in product enhancement, as well as packaging solutions.