MICRO, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs have a major competitive advantage in the global trade market, said a top executive of the Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR).
The BITR assistant director Angelo Benedictos said its office is bringing to the spotlight the importance of small businesses and the need for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to create provisions that would involve small enterprises to the global market.
"When people think about WTO, they actually think big firms ang nai-involve, pero kami we are trying to echo this advocacy na dapat in the international trading we should find practical application in the operational level na makakatulong sa MSMEs," he said.
Since making this an advocacy, the importance of MSMEs is now making noise in the global stage, Benedictos said.
Benedictos said it is only right to highlight the matter noting that the country’s economy does not rest on the shoulders of large and multinational corporations but actually on small businesses that have smaller capital and limited market reach.
In a survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2014, there are 942,925 MSMEs and constitute 99.6 percent of the business establishments in the country.
"Hindi lahat ng kailangan sa international trading is 'yung malalaking firms lang, so sana yung malalaking companies somehow ma-involve din nila 'yung smaller companies at sana itong rules ng WTO hanapan ng operational level for the MSMEs, sa lahat ng fronts (Not all needed in international trading were the big firms, so somehow those big companies should let the small companies involve and these WTO rules should find an operational level for MSMEs, in all fronts)" he said.
Benedictos said one of the challenges for MSMEs once they enter international trading is the possible competition they will face with other MSMEs in developed countries.
"Sa ibang bansa kasi meron na din silang MSMEs, in fact yung big companies nila have their own small enterprise so mahirap yun, ang challenge naman sa WTO is to find nga something in the operational level of WTO that is practical (There are also MSMEs in other countries, in fact big companies have their own small enterprise, that’s tough, the challenge for WTO is to find something in the operational level of WTO that is practical)," Benedictos added.
"Gusto kong i-emphasize na sa WTO, regardless of the size and status of the country, you have a voice, I would like to cite an example, kung ayaw mo yung desisyon na yun, you can say no, you choose your battles (I want to emphasize that WTO, regardless of the size and status of the country, you have a voice, I would like to cite an example, if you don’t want the decision, you can say no, you choose your battles)," he said.
Benedictos was one of the speakers during the WTO National Advocacy and Consultation Program on Tuesday, November 8.
"We are bringing this event here because ang Cagayan de Oro ay nagte-trade din, Cagayan de Oro is important to international trading, maraming parts ng Mindanao that their products actually pass through Cagayan de Oro," he said.
For Rodolfo Mariano, owner of Limonero Fruit Drinks said they are thankful that the world market is taking notice of their contribution to the country.
Mariano added the government should first support and empower the MSMEs in the country before going global.
"Kinahanglan gyud namo all-out support from the government, but not necessarily dole-out, but support in terms sa facilities, matagaan ug exposure ang produkto, perhaps compel grocery stores nga ma-display ang local products (We really need the support from the government, but not necessarily dole-out, but support in terms of facilities, our product should at least be given exposure, perhaps compel grocery stores where local products are displayed), " he said.
Abigail Libot, owner of Libot Coir Store, said although the country's economy mostly depends on SMEs, she said the government's focus is on multi-national companies.
"It's just a matter of focus. Focus sila [government] sa amo, but not necessarily let go or ignore the big companies, balance lang siguro (The government have to focus on us, but not necessarily let go or ignore the big companies, it should be balance)," she said.
Eileen San Juan, city investments and promotions officer said Cagayan de Oro is still looking for more innovations to be able to export products abroad.
"What I think is this is showing us what opportunities we can get as far as trade is concerned, and I think Cagayan de Oro, being the regional center, it's very appropriate that they're holding this here," San Juan said.
"We have Phividec container terminal here, we are highly capable of export and import. We are exploring products, especially in agriculture, we are looking for partners to be able to export," she said.