A nationwide SME Negosyo Caravan will be conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry starting April 2011. The objectives are to improve access of SMEs to government and private sector services particularly to areas where the provision of business development services may be limited. It is likewise meant to increase awareness of SMEs on various business development services provided by the government and private sector entities. Resource speakers from these institutions who are experts in their respective fields will be brought to the regions to conduct training and counseling sessions to promote entrepreneurship, improve access to markets, access to finance, and increase SME productivity and efficiency. Topics covered will include among others: Access to Markets: Franchising, Business Ethics, Product Development/Product Design, E-Marketing/Putting your Business on-line/Creative Selling Techniques, Product Costing and Pricing, Free Trade Agreements, Export Procedures, How to Participate in Trade Fairs; Access to Finance: Business Plan Preparation, Credit Sourcing and Management; Productivity and Efficiency: Packaging and Labeling, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Food Safety/Food Safety Risk Analysis, Green Manufacturing, Intellectual Property, Productivity Improvement; Business Environment: Entrepreneurial Mindset, Opportunity Seeking and Product Development, Marketing the Business.
MSME information materials published by the DTI-Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (DTI-BMSMED) and other agencies will also be provided to the participants during the event.
Schedules of the caravan are: (April 27-28) Bukidnon, (May 18-19) Oriental Mindoro, (May 26-27) Antique, (May 30-31) Surigao del Norte, (June 2-3) Zambales, (June 14-15) Cagayan, (June 22-23) Sorsogon, (June 28-29) Davao Oriental, (July 1-2) Zambo del Norte, (July 5-6) Negros Oriental, (July 14-15) Lucena, (July 20-21) Pangasinan, (July 26-27) Saranggani, (August 3-4) Northern Samar and (August) Abra. Franchising will be part of the sessions for the provinces of Bukidnon, Oriental Mindoro, Pangasinan, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Northern Samar, Sorsogon and Saranggani.
For more information, please contact the DTI-BMSMED at Telephone Nos.: (02) 751-5059; (02)897-7596 or the concerned DTI Provincial Offices.
