Go Negosyo, DTI to empower MSMEs

GO Negosyo, an entrepreneurship advocacy group, aims to foster stronger collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to continue empowering the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that “will be crucial to the recovery of the Philippines from the pandemic,” its founder Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion 3rd said Tuesday.

Concepcion made the statement following his recent meeting with Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, where they discussed the continuation of the Go Negosyo’s partnerships with the DTI and possible collaborations to further develop MSMEs.

During the meeting, Concepcion said he discussed with Pascual the role of digital transformation as an enabler for MSMEs, as well as the digital alliance established by Go Negosyo in 2019 and how it aims to teach MSMEs the use of digital tools.

The agenda also includes the continuation of the Asean Mentorship for Entrepreneurship Network Project, which was recently awarded a $333,943 grant from the Japan-Asean Integration Fund, according to Concepcion.

This, he said, “brings the legacy project of the Asean Business Advisory Council–Philippines to its second phase, where small entrepreneurs can scale up to the regional level, and the network of mentors is increased and expanded.”

“It is a great leap forward for the mentorship advocacy started by Go Negosyo,” said Concepcion, who also serves as the vice chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council.

Concepcion also shared Go Negosyo’s initiatives during the pandemic to keep the economy open and help MSMEs recover.

“The health and welfare of our MSMEs will be crucial to the recovery of the Philippines from the pandemic,” the Go Negosyo founder said.

“MSMEs constitute more than 99 percent of the business establishments in the country. On their continued operation rests the employment of 62.5 percent of Filipinos,” he added.

Pascual expressed his desire to ensure that more MSMEs will grow from micro to small, from small to medium, and eventually become large enterprises.

The DTI has been instrumental in facilitating Go Negosyo’s programs, foremost of which is Kapatid Mentor Me, which has taught more than 11,000 entrepreneurs since it began in 2016.

Even during the pandemic the mentoring programs continued online, using social-media platforms.

Go Negosyo’s mentoring programs serve active entrepreneurs who are looking to scale up their businesses, and aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to begin their journey to entrepreneurship.

It also helps promote entrepreneurship among Filipinos by building on the three pillars necessary for success: money, markets and mentorship.

Earlier, Concepcion said he and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. agreed that MSMEs will be crucial in the country’s path to prosperity.

“We both agree that MSMEs should be supported if we are to realize inclusive growth for the Philippines,” Concepcion had said.

Marcos promised that his administration will focus on the MSME sector and sought Concepcion’s suggestions on what the industry needs most as the country recovers from the pandemic.

“Our MSMEs need access to money, market and mentorship opportunities,” Concepcion said, as he outlined the three elements that underpin the PROGRAMS OF THE NONPROfiT GO NEGOsyo, which he founded in 2005.