■ TRADE SECRETARY VOWS TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS ON DESIGN, PACKAGING NEEDS
DTI will launch a roadmap before end of the year that identifies programs and institutions that would scale-up the packaging and the design ecosystem in the country.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will come up with a road map before the end of the year that will identify a program to improve the packaging and design of micro, small and medium enterprises’ (MSMEs) merchandise. According to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, innovation in products as well as business processes and operations are what entrepreneurs need to adopt so they could earn more, scale up, and find more value to the business in general.
To improve the design and packaging of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) merchandise, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has pleged to institutionalize a program that will help enterprenuers on their design and packaging needs.
“To me, I’m not happy of the quality and design of the packaging , generally speaking. There are good ones definitely, some 10 to 20 percent,” said Lopez in an interview yesterday at the sidelines of the entrepreneurship forum organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
The trade chief revealed that the DTI will be coming up with a roadmap, before end of the year, which will identify programs, and institutions that will scale-up the packaging and design ecosystem in the country.
Some of these intitutions include the Department of Science and Technology DOST), Philippine Packaging Institute, and Design Center of the Philippines.
“We want to challenge and provide that support system to really level up packaging,” he added.
Buying in volume
One of the gaps, aside from design, is the minimum volume requirement in the purchase of packaging products. Lopez said MSMEs, especially the micro, may not have the financial resources to buy packaging materials in bulk.
Instead, he suggested that the DTI may help MSMEs make arrangements in the ordering of the packaging. This way, DTI may collate the packaging needs of the MSMEs, and collectively, reach a bulk volume.
“The packaging is your marketing arm in the shelf,” he said.
Lopez also reminded local entrepreneurs to not just be MSMEs, but be “smart and innovative” MSMEs.
Empower MSMEs
“Innovation is viewed as leading economic growth. (And) with inclusive innovation, we create innovation that not only supports but also empower the marginalize sector of the society,” said Lopez.
In the Philippines, while MS- MEs comprise 99.6 percent of the total registered businesses, they account for only 35 percent of the gross value added, said Lopez.
Innovation in products as well as business processes and operations are what he wanted entrepreneurs to adopt so they could earn more, scale up, and find more value to the business in general.