Sorsogon to host Bicol’s SME Negosyo Caravan

By: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, June 10 (PIA) – The nationwide SME Negosyo Caravan started by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last April 27-28, 2011 in Bukidnon has been to eight regions of the country and will be in the Bicol Region this coming June 22-23, with the Province of Sorsogon as host to this highly awaited Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) regional event of the year.

DTI Senior Trade & Industry Development Specialist & Info Officer Senen Malaya said that the project which will be held at Aemilianum College Inc., Gymnasium and grounds in Sorsogon City aims to improve access and awareness of SMEs to government and private sector services particularly to areas where the provision of business development services may be limited.

Malaya said that resource speakers from institutions who are experts in their respective fields will be brought to the region to conduct training and counseling sessions to promote entrepreneurship, access to markets, access to finance, and increase SME productivity and efficiency.

Simultaneous sessions on the following topics will be conducted: Choosing the Right Market and Product Development, Business Plan Preparation, Putting Business Online, Requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices, Credit Sourcing Management, Packaging and Labeling Requirements and Franchising.

“The event will be participated in by about three hundred entrepreneurs from all over the region with the Province of Sorsogon expected to share 50% of the participants,” he also said.

Meanwhile, DTI provincial Director Leah Pagao said that back-to-back with the SME Caravan is a three-day “TODO DISKWENTO PROJECT” aimed to help consumers through discounted prices of school supplies and basic commodities.

Pagao said that the project will be held on June 22-24, 2011 with leading local stores together with the National Food Authority-Sorsogon and the San Miguel Integrated Sales, participating. 

“Specifically, products offered at discount include notebooks, papers, pencils, pens, school bags and shoes, and selected food items as sausages and canned items (children’s baon),” she added.

For more information, please contact DTI-Sorsogon at telephone numbers: 4215553 or 4215399 or any DTI Provincial Office nearest to you. (DTI/PIA Sorsogon)