DTI teaches digital commerce to over 300,000 businesses

BADGE OF HONOR Kawayan Collective Agricultural Cooperative chair Marbert Tinguha (fifth from left) receives the Presidential Award for Outstanding MSME (small business category) from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Also in the photo are (from left): MSME Development Council vice chair and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. — PHOTO FROM GO NEGOSYO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has trained more than 300,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on digital commerce from January 2023 to March 2024.

According to Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual on Saturday, the training was meant to integrate MSMEs into digital technologies.

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“By empowering MSMEs with digital tools and fostering a culture of innovation, we unlock the full potential and drive inclusive economic growth for all Filipinos,” Pascual said.

“In this regard, the DTI has onboarded over 300,000 MSMEs nationwide in e-commerce platforms from January 2023 to March 2024,” he noted.

“These onboarding efforts include training in social media platforms, such as Instagram, Viber and Tiktok, as well as e-marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada, Amazon, among others,” he pointed out.

Pascual made the remarks at the DTI’s 2024 National MSME Summit.

The official also urged owners of enterprises to also produce intermediate goods, which can be resold or distributed in larger companies.

“We also would like to encourage MSMEs not to limit themselves to producing consumer goods. We want them to produce intermediate products that can be integrated into the supply chains of larger companies,” he continued.

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Data from the DTI said that as of 2022, there were more than 1.1 million MSMEs in the country.

“By empowering MSMEs, we unlock the full potential of a thriving, inclusive and sustainable Philippine economy,” Pascual concluded.