DTI to tap business chambers for mentorship program

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) plans to reach out to more business chambers in Cebu province to expand its partnership with the private sector in its mentorship program.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said that the agency is eyeing a partnership with the business chambers of Mandaue, Bantayan, Naga and other established business organizations in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas.

Caberte made this statement following the formalization of its partnership with Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), saying smaller entrepreneurs, especially in the countryside need to have an affective shield against the harsh business environment of today.

In a separate interview with MCCI president Glenn Soco, he said that the chamber had already expressed its interest to participate in the mentorship program to further enhance its existing program called OBRA Negosyo program.

Soco said MCCI will also participate in DTI's mentorship program as it will nominate members to be part of the professional mentors' network.

DTI's Mentor Me program aims to help micro, small and medium entrepreneurs scale up their businesses through the weekly coaching and mentoring by business owners and practitioners on different functional areas of entrepreneurship to be held in Negosyo Centers.

Reinforced by DTI secretary Ramon Lopez who deemed the mentorship program as an offshoot of the "Go Negosyo" advocacy that Lopez and other advocates initiated few years back.

The Kapatid Mentor Me program is a joint undertaking of Go Negosyo and the DTI that is envisioned to bring in an entrepreneurial culture geared towards a more prosperous nation.

The project specifically aims to link MSMEs to medium and large enterprises as the latter's suppliers and distributors–all within specific industry clusters.

These linkages will enable the MSMEs to engage in more sustainable and profitable business activities.

To achieve these linkages, MSMEs must be provided with capacity building as well as access to technology, such as the Shared Service Facility (SSF), and financing. (FREEMAN)