DTI, DOUBLEDRAGON INK GO LOKAL PARTNERSHIP

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said over the weekend it recently partnered with listed property developer DoubleDragon Properties Inc. in developing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the provinces through the agency’s Go Lokal! stores in the company’s shopping malls.

“Under the partnership, DoubleDragon will operate and manage Go Lokal! stores in all CityMalls branches,” DTI said.

The Go Lokal!@ CityMall was launched at CityMall Imus in Cavite province on Saturday.

The CityMall chain of community shopping malls is owned and operated by DoubleDragon subsidiary CityMall Commercial Centers Inc.

Go Lokal! is a retail concept store program that is the brainchild of Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

This comes as the government has been doubling its efforts to promote the country’s MSMEs in the last few months.

Lopez has said MSMEs are at the “front and center” of the government’s trade agenda, which is tied to the goal of inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

The DTI chief also said the department is looking at allocating at least P1.38 billion next year to develop MSMEs.

Priority programs for the sector include setting up Negosyo Centers, implementing the MSME Development Plan and other programs to further boost MSMEs in the country.