By Sarah Jane Ditucalan
MSU-Marawi Intern
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao together with Go Negosyo conducted a regionwide Negosyo Seminar (Negosem) for the DTI's One Town One Product Program (OTOP) and micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSME) Thursday at the Grand Caprice Restaurant in Limketkai Center.
Over 850 participants from different areas in Northern Mindanao joined the seminar, which involved discussions on setting the right mindset in starting a business, creating changes and reaching success, spotting business opportunities and selecting the best market for the business, innovating products and services, proper advertising, and subsidising and managing finances in a business.
"This is not actually the first time that Go Negosyo organized a seminar here in Cagayan de Oro but this is the first time that they worked with the DTI. The primary objective of the seminar is to promote entrepreneurship to the mindset of businessmen, and to the existing and potential investors," said Liza Veronica M. Alcantar, chief of the Business Development Division of DTI-Northern Mindanao.
She said the target participants are not only those in the business sectors but also the people in the academe, cooperatives, local government units (LGU) and other business agencies.
Among those who spoke in the seminar include Ardy Roberto, chairperson of Salt and Light Ventures, who presented the importance of having optimistic mindset in a business while Anthony Pangilinan, director and chief trainer of Inspire Leadership Consultancy, Chief Disturber of Business Works Inc., gave a special speech about leadership and success.
Paulo Tibig, president of V-Cargo and Association of Filipino and currently the president of the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), also gave tips on how to start a business and the importance of having a right business at the right place and with a good service.
Tibig also inspired and motivated budding entrepreneurs to have a sustainable business.
Reuel Virtucio, the excecutive director of Punla sa Tao Foundation, talked about innovating products and having a good edge over other competitors while Carlo Calimon, director of Let's Go Foundation, discussed the importance of letting the people know about a business product and making people patronized it.
Randell Tiongson, director of Registered Financial Planner Institute Philippines, also spoke about how to give sufficient financial support to the business and how to properly handle the money aspects of a business.