DTI ties up with DoubleDragon for Go Lokal stores in CityMalls

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is teaming up with listed property developer DoubleDragon Properties Inc. in supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the provinces through the Go Lokal stores.

Under the partnership, DoubleDragon will operate and manage Go Lokal stores not only in existing CityMalls, but also in every CityMall to be opened in the future.

The property arm of Mang Inasal founder Edgar “Injap” Sia II and Jollibee Foods Corp. is looking to put up around 100 CityMalls by 2020.

The agreement will provide mainstream market access for the country’s best MSMEs, bringing their products closer to the public through the Go Lokal stores.

According to the DTI, DoubleDragon has also agreed to donate five percent of the project income to the government’s drug rehabilitation program.

DTI, on the other hand, will provide assistance at various fronts including product development, sourcing and branding.

“As we partner with more establishments such as CityMalls, we hope to bring more of our MSMEs’ quality products closer to consumers. Through Go Lokal, we want to expand their markets and introduce their products to local consumers especially those in the regions,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

He said the initiative could also serve as a strategic platform for new entrepreneurs to test the marketability of their products “without the fear of losing rental and commercial costs because their experience is free of charge.”

Go Lokal is a design-led concept store showcasing quality products crafted, designed and created by Philippine MSMEs.

“We are happy to be working with DTI on this project which will enable CityMalls across the country to be the breeding ground of micro entrepreneurs from different provincial parts of the Philippines. We expect that through this project, these micro entrepreneurs could eventually progress from micro to small, to medium, and eventually to large entrepreneurs in the future,” Sia, DoubleDragon chairman, said.

DoubleDragon has so far secured 54 sites for CityMalls in different cities nationwide, of which 10 are already operating and 29 are being built.

The company plans to have at least 30 operational CityMalls this year.