On the 15th of July 2014, the “Go NegosyoAct” which seeks to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to create more job opportunities in the Philippines, was signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The Negosyo Center Program is responsible for promoting ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Beyond fulfilling the law, Negosyo Centers (business centers) bring DTI services closer to entrepreneurs and make businesses more competitive.
Negosyo Centers are found in strategic areas convenient for the existing and would-be entrepreneurs, such as DTI offices, Local Government Units (LGU), academe, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and malls.
The Program started in 2014, with 5 Centers established in the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Since then more than 1000 Centers have been set up nationwide.
Negosyo Centers make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and grow their companies. In the past, without the Negosyo Center, it was tedious for entrepreneurs to process their licenses and other requisites to start a business. Now, they just have to go straight to the Negosyo Center of DTI.
Entrepreneurs can also expect to see more of these centers in the country as the Go Negosyo Act has given DTI the challenge of establishing Negosyo Centers in all cities, and municipalities nationwide. And with former Go Negosyo Executive Director Ramon Lopez as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, there is stronger support for all business persons especially the micro and small entrepreneurs.
Ramon Lopez has been the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo’s Executive Director for 11 years; so his experience with finding solutions to the travails of businessmen is vast. Together with Go Negosyo’s Founder, Joey Concepcion, he has led the strong entrepreneurship advocacy promoting the enterprising culture among Filipinos.
Negosyo Centers actually help realize the mandate of the DTI which is to enable and strengthen local businesses, to improve the people’s business mindset and capability-building, mentoring, ease of doing business, and facilitate financing and marketing.
Aside from providing assistance in business registration, the center also provides consultation and information packages. Moreover, services are expedited since DTI will be working closely with Local Government Units and business chambers.
The DTI Regional Operations Group and Board of Investments have stepped up their collaboration to promote investments in the country by providing capability-building trainings on investment promotion to the DTI frontline staff and the Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officers (LEIPOs) assigned in the Negosyo Centers. Besides the frontline DTI staff and LEIPOs in Negosyo Centers, participants to the training sessions also include economic stakeholders from the local chambers of commerce and industry, industry associations, SMEs, academe and representatives from other line agencies.
Assistance to many start-ups, micro and small entrepreneurs is crucial. Many start-ups have a hard time sustaining the first six months of operations because not all will hit it big right away. It is important to know what the real opportunity is or what the market is looking for, who is the target market, developing and testing the concept with the target market or pilot-testing the product or service.
Giving the right tools is important to those who will start and those who have started as they get to review their business model. Having the knowhow increases the chance of succeeding in a venture. This is where the Negosyo Centers are helpful.
In line with the government’s 10-point socio-economic agenda, which among other things include increasing competitiveness and ease of doing business, expect more centers to be open in more localities in the coming years. This is DTI’s commitment for the continued growth of our MSMEs. The department aims to reach out to people in areas where they matter the most.
The establishment of Negosyo Centers seeks not just to strengthen MSMEs nationwide but also create more job opportunities in order to fulfill government’s dream of achieving a more inclusive economic growth in the country.
Long live the Filipino entrepreneurs !
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