DTI capacitates Negros exporters, SMEs

FILE: The day-long activity, held at Business Inn Hotel here on Tuesday, was part of the DTI’s measures to boost local exporters, particularly on IT-BPM related services, to intensify the implementation of its Regional Interactive Platform for the Philippines (RIPPLES) Plus program. (Photo: DTI Eastern Visayas/Facebook)

BACOLOD CITY — At least 60 exporters and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Negros Occidental attended the Capacity Building Seminar for Information and Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Services initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The day-long activity, held at Business Inn Hotel here on Tuesday, was part of the DTI’s measures to boost local exporters, particularly on IT-BPM related services, to intensify the implementation of its Regional Interactive Platform for the Philippines (RIPPLES) Plus program.

DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Division Chief Maria Teresa Loring said the government has recognized the need to support local enterprises to become part of the global value chain to generate revenues not only for their companies, but also for the country.

“Trade and services as information are not yet so common especially in the regional and provincial levels,” she said.

Loring said the EMB seeks to reach out to exporters and SMEs here to provide them a better understanding of how they can make use of the information, which is the current market trend.

Through the RIPPLES Plus program, local exporters attend information sessions to capacitate and equip themselves with better understanding on how the government can support them in enhancing their competitiveness amid the growing global market.

The estimated 200 IT-enabled companies nationwide covered by the RIPPLES Plus program do not include firms from Negros Occidental, based on the DTI-EMB records.

Loring added that in running an export business, competitiveness and innovation are vital factors thus, exporters should be ready to know the trend.

Being technology-based is not enough, they should do more research and subject themselves to development endeavors to be always updated, she said.

“IT-BPM firms here have supportive association, the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology. The strong involvement of the private sector has allowed them to start promoting their products and services like gaming and animation,” Loring added. (PNA)