DTI wants free mall space for MSMEs

TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez has started tapping some of the country’s biggest malls and retailers in his bid to bring the products of micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) to the mainstream market.

The plan was to convince the mall owners to provide a free space dedicated to the MSME products. This proposed program was just one of the measures being eyed by the new administration to boost the access of MSMEs to the domestic market—a move that would eventually prepare these enterprises to embark on a bigger scale when they start exporting their products.

Lopez said he has already talked to businessman Lance Gokongwei, whose family owns the Robinsons malls, during the inauguration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte last week. Gokongwei, he said, has confirmed support for this plan.

“We will also be talking to the Ayala and SM groups,” Lopez added.

The malls were asked to provide free space for deserving MSME products, specifically those with trade fair quality, even for a limited period. Another batch of MSME products would then be showcased in the same space after one or two months in order to give more enterprises better chances of being exposed to the mainstream market.

“These products should be able to compete with the other products being sold in the mall whether these are accessories, garments, processed, among others. It will be a continuing support for the MSMEs. Imagine if all the malls and supermarkets can extend this kind of market access for MSMEs,” Lopez said. Amy R. Remo