SERDEF officials join National MSME Summit 2018

Representatives of the Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation (SERDEF) participated in the National MSME Summit 2018 held on July 11, 2017 at the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

SERDEF Trustees Ms. Gloria Canela and Ms. Arlene Liberal
SERDEF Trustees Ms. Gloria Canela and Ms. Arlene Liberal

SERDEF Trustees Ms. Arlene Liberal, Ms. Gloria Canela and Dr. Benigno Ricafort attended the event alongside existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, academe, enablers, business experts, and other stakeholders.

With the theme “Accelerating 7Ms for Competitive MSMEs”, the Summit aimed to present various opportunities and initiatives in gearing up for MSME competitiveness, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which chairs the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (MSMED) Council that organized the event.

SERDEF Trustee Dr. Benigno Ricafort mentors a participant
SERDEF Trustee Dr. Benigno Ricafort conducting a mentoring session with a businessman during the Summit

“The agenda of the 2018 National MSME Summit is to help MSMEs become empowered, enabled and competitive, especially at a time when business conditions, and technology and innovation have seen great changes,” DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in his Keynote Speech as uploaded on the DTI website. (Read the full speech here.)

SERDEF Trustee Ms. Arlene Liberal and Mr. Jerry Clavesillas, Director of the Bureau of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Development (BMSMED)-DTI and SERDEF member
SERDEF Trustee Ms. Arlene Liberal and Mr. Jerry Clavesillas, Director of the Bureau of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Development (BMSMED)-DTI and SERDEF member

During the Summit, Mr. Lopez reported to President Rodrigo Duterte the MSMED Council’s 7-Point Action Agenda. “This solid agenda will help us accelerate our 7Ms Framework for Successful Entrepreneurship: Mindset Change, Mastery, Mentoring, Machines, Money, Market Access, and Mode of Business. Moreover, this will ensure that entrepreneurs and enablers can transform themselves to meet the goals of the MSME Development Plan,” he noted.

He also identified several initiatives aimed at accelerating the 7Ms. These include streamlining processes in starting a business, particularly with the passage of the Ease of Doing Business Act; launch of a nationwide campaign on entrepreneurship education in partnership with the private sector; continued expansion of the Shared Service Facilities project; and the launch of the MSME Food Certification Lending Program.