TO give due recognition to outstanding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Davao region, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conferred the SME Star Awards on several SMEs during the SME Development Week celebration recently.
The SME Star Program is an SME competency initiative that supports and gives recognition to outstanding SMEs which persevere to improve their growth, both in the domestic and international markets.
Under the SME Star Program, SMEs are given opportunities for sustainable growth. They undergo capability building activities to hone their skills in marketing, production, financial management, as well as their managerial and technical capabilities.
The SME Star Awards has two groups, the SME Rising Star (city/provincial level) and SME Star Elite (regional level).
The SME Rising Star awardees were: Davao City: Reliance Transcription, Incorporated (micro enterprise category); Royal Breadhaus, Inc. (small enterprise category), and Jhaymarts Industries (medium enterprise category); Davao del Sur: Magsaysay Organic Farmers Cooperative (micro enterprise); Fergie Poultry Farm (small enterprise), and EJA Banana Chips (medium enterprise); Davao del Norte: Chokolate de San Isidro (micro enterprise); Davao Oriental: Oriental Touch Collection (micro enterprise); and Compostela Valley: H and W Ventures (micro enterprise).
Meanwhile, the following were chosen as SME Star Elite awardees: Norie’s Footwear and Supply of Davao del Norte (micro enterprise); Royal Breadhaus, Inc. (small enterprise); and Davao Dragon Fortune Corporation of Davao del Sur (medium enterprise).
DTI 11 regional director Marizon S. Loreto said that the department has been crafting initiatives that will sustain the growth of the region’s SMEs.
“The entire department is continuously looking for innovative projects which can help our SMEs,” she said.
Among the programs and projects on SME development that DTI 11 has been implementing are the: creation of the Designers Pool which aims to assist SMEs to improve on their product design; Export Pathways Program (EPP) which provides the appropriate package of assistance for different SMEs; and One Town One Product (OTOP) program which aims to promote countryside development by promoting the SMEs involved in the production of goods and services from indigenous raw materials and/or skills.
As of first semester this year, DTI-initiated events recorded a total of P379.12 million in domestic sales. This is 50 percent of the annual target of P750.85 million. Export sales generated from DTI-initiated events hit US$18.04 million during the same period. This is 59% of the annual target of PUS$30.50 million.
“These figures will show us that SMEs really play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economy. Without their contribution, DTI programs and projects will never be this successful,” Loreto said. [DTI11/Jenny Molbog-Mendoza]
