BACOLOD City – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6 OIC-Regional Director Ermelinda Pollentes assured that DTI Region 6 will continue to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region in scaling up their businesses as she inspired all attendees of the Provincial KMME-MME Annual Summit held at Park Inn by Radisson in Bacolod City on October 11, 2022.
Driven by the government’s desire to encourage partnership among MSMEs, the Summit’s theme “…where memories and business meet” underscores the need for an avenue to exchange knowledge and insights from starting a business to preparing for the challenges ahead in today’s globally competitive business environment.
“Walang iwanan. Let us journey together for inclusive growth for all,” Pollentes said in ensuring the 76 graduates of the KMME-MME program present that DTI will be with them throughout their entrepreneurial journey during this digital era as the region progresses toward recovery from the pandemic and economic crisis.
Kapatid Mentor ME is one of the flagship programs of DTI and has been an avenue to boost MSMEs’ access to mentorship, money, and market, providing necessary entrepreneurial information for improving businesses.
The Provincial KMME-MME Annual Summit is an initiative of DTI Negros Occidental Provincial Office which aims build a network among MSMEs; inspire and motivate the mentee graduates by sharing stories and experiences of successful entrepreneurs through the mentoring process, and how they were able to implement their business improvement plans.
The Kapatid Mentor Me Program has been implemented in the region since 2016 and has generated 743 graduates from 2016 to 2022.
The program has increased MSMEs’ access to mentorship through weekly coaching by successful business owners and practitioners on different functional areas of business; capital, and markets, as well as providing necessary entrepreneurial information for business growth.
Rachel Nufable, DTI Negros Occidental Provincial Director, hopes the mentees will grow and develop into mentors and share their knowledge with other aspiring entrepreneurs in the province.
Meanwhile, DTI Usec. for Regional Operations Group Blesila Lantayona virtually expressed her support for all the MSMEs through a video message.
Negros Occ. Gov. Bong Lacson commended the DTI and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship for the pioneering mentoring and coaching approach to scale up the capacities of MSMEs. He also recognized the contribution of the MSMEs to the local and national economy and lauded the KMME graduates who actively participated in the program.
