DTI launches SME Roving Academy, signs MOA with partners

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 31 (PIA) -- Some 300 people, comprising representatives from government agencies, local government units of Caraga, business sector, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) gathered on Tuesday at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort here and witnessed the launching of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Roving Academy (SRA) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Jerry Clavesillas of DTI, representing DTI USec. Zenaida Maglaya, along with DTI-Caraga officials led by Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran and partners from different sectors signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA).

The MOA will provide the four SME "Bizniz" kiosks to each of the following: 1) PWDs Regional Association through its president Delfin Antallan; 2) Dinagat Islands through provincial administrator Atty. Millard Tawakal; 3) Butuan ProFood through its head, Roderico Cane; and 4) Tourism Industry Cluster through its officers.

Clavesillas said the DTI, in partnership with the local government units, chamber of commerce, academe, financial institutions, trade and industry associations and other government and non-government organizations facilitates not only the learning stages but also other support services to assist SMEs to grow from micro into small to medium and large should they desire to do so.

“The DTI's Small and Medium Enterprise Roving Academy is a continuous learning program for the development of micro, small and medium enterprise to become competitive in the domestic and international (global) markets,” said Clavesillas.

The SRA has seven learning stages namely: 1) start-up and capability building; 2) market awareness; 3) market readiness; 4) export readiness; 5) export market entry; 6) export sustainability; and 7) export expansion.

Clavesillas added that this program is an integration of different government agencies’ services to enhance and sustain the entrepreneurs’ businesses and provide them the necessary specific skills training. “The department has a database of all the registered SMEs in the provinces nationwide and the department will track them to assess their progress after having availed any services from our partners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pagaran called on to Caraganons who are into business to take this opportunity to have their businesses registered at the DTI’s SME Roving Academy and be part of the growing economy of the country. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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