Tarlac Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Council conducted its first-ever caravan for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The three-day MSME Caravan featured coaching and consultation with council members, upskilling trainings and seminars, Food Innovation Center Exhibit, and a provincial trade fair participated by 18 MSMEs.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Business Development Division Chief Zaida Garibay explained that the undertaking aims to provide business opportunities for Tarlaqueños, and help local businesses further upgrade their product quality and knowledge on entrepreneurship.
“People need to know the programs of our government through different agencies. And this is one of the platforms that the council has thought of and is now taking place. And our main goal here is to develop more entrepreneurs,” she said.
Meanwhile, DTI OIC-Provincial Director Florencia Balilo stressed other innovative measures through social media to establish more MSMEs in Tarlac.
“With this fast-paced era, we focus more on digitalization so that our MSMEs could cope with the digital world and would not be left behind,” Balilo said.
For his part, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Tarlac President and Provincial MSME Development Council Chairperson Leonardo Cudo commended the participating government agencies for their support to the existing and potential MSMEs.
He said the target is to nurture local businesses and create new MSMEs among those who attended the training sessions.
“More entrepreneurs will mean more opportunities, more jobs and of course more taxes. This means that the government support goes back to the government. Our support with each other is a domino effect that will result in economic growth,” Cudo noted.
MSMED Council members who participated in the consultation sessions include DTI, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Philippine Information Agency.
Also taking part were PCCI Tarlac, Tarlac Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office, Tarlac State University, Tarlac Agricultural University, and Tarlac City Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office.