DTI rolls out Kapatid Mentor Me Program in Ilocos Norte

True to its thrust to propel micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) towards innovative and competitive business environment, the Department of Trade and Industry Region 1, in partnership with Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), on September 15, launched the Kapatid Mentor Me Program (KMME) - Ilocos Norte Leg in Ilocos Norte.

the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship - Go Negosyo. The KMME Program is part of the DTI – PCE partnership Negosyo - Kapatid Project to help MSMEs scale up their businesses and become globally competitive enterprises through coaching and mentoring sessions.

The KMME Program is part of the Negosyo- Kapatid Project that will guide micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale up their businesses through 10 weeks of 1-on-1 consultations and coaching sessions with business experts and help MSMEs scale up and become globally competitive enterprises through coaching and mentoring sessions.

In his message, DTI-Ilocos Regional Director Florante Leal emphasized the role played by MSMEs in fueling the economic growth of the country while also highlighting the importance of mentoring towards the attainment of economic progress driven by empowered MSMEs.

Leal said the KMME program is a “big brother-small brother” concept, which is a perfect tool to motivate the entrepreneurial spirit of the Ilocanos and Pangasinenses.”

PCE accredited mentors shared their expertise on Entrepreneurial Mind Setting, Business Values Formation and Marketing to some 250 MSMEs from the Region.

The KMME program is in line with the Duterte Administration’s agenda of advancing MSMEs in the country.

The program will allow mentees to learn strategies on marketing, financial, human resource and operation management among others during the 10-week module-based sessions. On the 11th week, mentees are also required to present their business development plans before their graduation from the program.

Upon completion of the program, the MSEs are expected to become confident entrepreneurs with the right mindset and business-knowhow that will be able to sustain and scale up their enterprises.

For Ilocos Norte, 22 mentees were chosen for the program. Qualified mentees are business owners or managers of an enterprise with an asset of three million and below and operational for at least a year.

Ilocos Norte is the fourth and last province in the region to roll-out the Kapatid Mentor Me Program. La Union, Pangasinan have previously launched the KMME program and has already produced entrepreneur 50 graduates while 23 entrepreneurs in Ilocos Sur are expected to finish the program.

*This is Press Release

KAPATID Mentor ME now in Marikina City

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) launched the Kapatid Mentor ME Program in Marikina City on September 5, 2017, which aims to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale up their businesses through 10 weeks of 1-on-1 consultations with business experts from the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship - Go Negosyo. In her message, DTI-ROG Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona raised several points that will help MSMEs move up the entrepreneurial ladder such as providing an enabling business environment, access to finance, access to market, enhancing of productivity and efficiency, among others. "We need certain programs to improve the state of our MSMEs. With this KMME Project, suffice to say, the objective is to scale up our MSMEs through weekly rendition of KMME modules," Asec. Lantayona said. 

 *This is Press Release

Go Lokal! Sets a Bright Future for Lipi Enterprises in the Apparel Business

“We were given the opportunity that would have been very difficult to get on our own” Lipi Enterprises owner Joseph Lucero thankfully testifies on how the Department of Trade and Industry helped them develop their small business to get into the mainstream market.

Lipi (Filipino word for tribe, group, or family) is an apparel manufacturing company established in 2014. To encourage more Filipinos to wear locally made garments, Lipi created hand-woven apparels that appealed to the taste of the Filipino millennial. This vision was a challenge as hand-woven fabrics were not only expensive; it was also uncomfortable to wear. Joseph believed otherwise saying that “creating these fabrics into comfortable and street wearable items can help local communities in our own little way”, also referring to the jobs it can provide communities.

The biggest obstacle to Lipi is access to the local consumer market. Joining Sunday markets and DTI’s three-day bazaars, Joseph knew Lipi apparel has not really hit the road.  Then Joseph received an invitation from DTI to join the Go Lokal! Store project, a retail concept store for quality and innovative products crafted, designed and manufactured by the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). “They vetted us and worked with us on how we can improve our products as well as our marketing strategies,” Joseph happily added.

One of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises is to make Filipino products more visible and available in malls and other retail platforms to give MSMEs access to the local consumer market. DTI’s Go Lokal! fulfills that promise.

*This is Press Release