DTI pushes digitalization, innovation for MSME training

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is preparing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become globally competitive by incorporating digitalization and innovation-related modules in its training and workshops offered at the Philippine Trade Training Center-Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA).

During the opening of MSME Week on July 8, 2019, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez underscored the government’s commitment in creating globally competitive MSMEs, which are regionally-integrated, resilient, sustainable, and innovative.

“We have to create smarter entrepreneurs. This is what President Rodrigo Duterte wants, so we help ordinary people level up to have greater chances to succeed and prosper in life.  It has been the vision of the President to provide better and more comfortable lives for all Filipinos through job opportunities and entrepreneurship. To fulfill this vision, DTI through the PTTC-GMEA is upgrading our training modules to equip our MSMEs with the right skills even as we encourage them to innovate and embrace technologies in order to compete in the domestic and global markets,” said Sec. Lopez.

“We are pushing for digitalization and innovation because these provide income opportunities for women, youth, and other sectors of society. And we acknowledge the need of our MSMEs to learn more advanced skills in digital entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and understanding platform economy,” the trade chief added.

PTTC-GMEA will offer more than 300 modules on digitalization and innovation-related modules. These include DIGIFAB workshops and services for rapid prototyping, which will offer hands-on realization of product, package, as well as label designs. DIGIFAB will be launched this year and will provide a user experience of digital equipment in workshops.

PTTC-GMEA also introduced focus and targeted training programs for MSMEs that are applicable to their type of business. The FOOD Better Best program offers over 50 training modules and aims to bring processed food to the best level by providing knowledge and assisting MSMEs in their food safety and quality management system. Lifestyle Philippines feature training programs for wearables and homestyles. It has 20 training modules that adapt to the evolving trends and innovations in this sector.

Meanwhile, Services plus+ on entrepreneurship covers training programs for the service sector. It is implemented to address the increasing importance and share of service sector in global trade where goods and services are interconnected. It caters to subsectors such as animation, game development, audio-visual, information technology in health, finance, as well as logistics services. It also caters to travel and tourism like accommodation, restaurants, community-based tourism, tours, and souvenir shops. PTTC-GMEA offers 30 Services plus+ training courses including digital productivity tools, database management, inventory management, data mining, as well as e-marketing tools involving social media, storytelling and analytics.

Further, PTTC-GMEA offers foundation to market access courses under the Promotions, Certifications, Entrepreneurship, Export-Import, Digitalization (PROCEED) program. This will engage aspiring entrepreneurs in honing their creative and technical competencies in establishing their businesses.

“We are continuously improving our program offerings with an initial focus on current priority sectors and we are looking at expanding this to reach more MSMEs in the provinces and regions,” said Sec. Lopez.

The trade chief also shared that the DTI is finalizing special training programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). It will be a sustained program that will empower the OFWs with entrepreneurship mindset and knowhow.

“We shall welcome them to join our seminars at PTTC-GMEA for free if they are endorsed by our partner agency, OWWA. For advance courses, we will be extending at least 50% discount to former OFWs,” shared Sec. Lopez.