By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
IPIL, ZAMBOANGA
SIBUGAY – “The
development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is one of the main
tools to help achieve inclusive economic growth in the country,” Dr. Sitti
Amina Jain, Assistant Regional Director (ARD) of the Department of Trade and
Industry-9 (DTI) said during the third leg of the 2013 SME Roving Academy held
here last July 5-6.
Addressing over 60 participants, ARD Jain said: “The inclusive growth
that President Aquino wants for our country is anchored on SME development. By
developing our SMEs, which is the backbone of our economy, we generate
employment to help alleviate poverty. And the conduct of our SME Roving Academy
is one tool to help you develop.”
Jain further said there is a standing order from DTI Secretary Gregory
Domingo to conduct such activity and come up with follow up activities to help
start up businesses.
“Although we conduct the Roving Academy once a year, we have been doing
all-year-round activities as support to our SMEs. The Roving Academy is a
strategy to bring the government to SMEs to assist them grow from micro, to
small, then medium, and ultimately become large enterprises until DTI and the
SME Core Group is ready to let them go and stand on their own,” Jain explained.
According to Jain, the SME Roving Caravan is an institutionalized
provision of business development services which converges all concerned
government agencies to come up with a unified action plan for SMEs.
“The conduct of such activity is also aimed to improve your (SMEs)
competitiveness in the local and even international business arena through
local, regional and national entrepreneurship networking,” Jain stressed.
The Regional Network in Zamboanga Peninsula was started in 2005 when the
SME Core Group was created. The first SME Caravan was also held in that year.
However, it was temporarily stopped in 2006.
The activity was resumed in 2007 to present with its name evolving from
SME caravan, to Enhanced SME Caravan, and this year, the SME Roving Academy
(SMERA). (PIA9)