DTI scales up help centers for MSMEs

Budding entrepreneurs are expected to have an easier time setting up business as 298 Negosyo Centers more have been established nationwide last year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Negosyo Centers provide efficient services to micro, small and medium entertprises (MSMEs), including business mentoring services, information on market and access to funding.

Such centers are expected to bring in business opportunities to communities and contribute to countryside development.

“Negosyo Centers are people’s partners toward inclusive growth,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a statement. “This is part of the government’s commitment to encourage entrepreneurship among ordinary Filipinos.”

According to the DTI, it was able to create last year 298 Negosyo Centers or twice its target of 150 centers. This brought the number of such centers to 447 as of last month from 144 in 2015.

Of the centers launched in 2016, Lopez said majority or 197 were formed during the second semester or under the Duterte administration.

The launching of Negosyo Centers is pursuant to Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, which mandates support for MSMEs in terms of easier business registration, provision of management guidance, improved working conditions, and facilitation of market access and linkage services for entrepreneurs.

Lopez said the DTI last year assisted a total of 491,314 clients nationwide and conducted over 6,000 seminars for MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs through Negosyo Centers. Because of these, at least 41,000 MSMEs were created last year, he said.

Also, the DTI created a special lane for overseas Filipino workers at Negosyo Centers to provide them and their families options to learn entrepreneurship and pursue business ventures.

“I call on OFWs to invest back in the country as demand for work abroad may not be an all-time high,” Lopez said. “OFWs may explore idea-based, demand-driven and innovation-led business and investment opportunities at home in the industries of food, franchising, agriculture and services.”