The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reaffirmed support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Occidental, highlighting its commitment in the 2024 Provincial MSME and Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Summit held at SMX Convention Center here Tuesday.

Themed “Innovate to Elevate: Empowering MSMEs for Sustainable Growth,” the event gathered almost 200 stakeholders, including MSMEs assisted by the DTI and graduates of the KMME from 2017 to 2024.

“Under the leadership of (Secretary) Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, DTI is steadfast in advancing MSME development through her five-point strategic agenda,” DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Dominic Tolentino Jr. said in a livestreamed message.

These include digital transformation, diversification, financing solutions, franchising as a growth strategy and mentorship networks.

“As we celebrate today’s achievement and prepare for the challenges ahead, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to champion MSMEs,” Tolentino said.

He added that KMME, a program that aims to help MSMEs scale up their businesses through coaching and mentoring, “serves not only to educate but also to inspire.”

“What sets KMME apart is the personal mentorship approach in entrepreneurship. Challenges and opportunities are addressed, enabling them to implement impactful changes in their businesses,” Tolentino said.

DTI-Negros Occidental Director Lynna Joy Cardinal said the theme recognizes the need for MSMEs to innovate and adapt to the changes to grow their enterprises.

“They especially need to digitalize. We’re empowering MSMEs to grow,” she added.

DTI’s Small Business Corp. oriented participants on the Rise-Up loan program, which provides multi-purpose loans that have soft terms to multi-sectoral MSMEs, as well as on financial literacy by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Success stories of KMME graduates were shared while partner agencies in regulating businesses, such as the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Pag-IBIG Fund, Bureau of Internal Revenue and Business Process and Licensing Office, provided assistance to participating MSMEs. (PNA)