Business and Economy
DTI exceeds Go! Lokal target for 2017
Go! Lokal is a public-private partnership program of DTI, wherein the government partners with private stock retailers, mall operators, and vendors to bring quality products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the mainstream market. (Photo: DTI Philippines/Facebook)
MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has exceeded its target number of Go! Lokal stores to be established this year.
Go! Lokal is a public-private partnership program of DTI, wherein the government partners with private stock retailers, mall operators, and vendors to bring quality products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the mainstream market.
DTI said Monday that Go! Lokal now has around 30 outlets launched nationwide, surpassing its target of opening eight stores for the full year of 2017.
The first Go! Lokal store was launched last March at Robinsons Place Manila.
Aside from Robinsons Malls, DTI has forged an agreement with other big mall operators, such as SM and CityMalls to host Go! Lokal outlets in their malls.
Only last month, DTI and Double Dragon Properties Corp. unit CityMall Commercial Centers, Inc. had the inaugural launch of 22 Go! Lokal stores in City Malls across the country.
On Monday, DTI opened the Go! Lokal store in Shopwise Araneta Center, which has a partnership with Rustan’s Supercenter, Inc.
In a previous interview, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency aims to bring 100 MSME suppliers to Go! Lokal stores nationwide.
Meanwhile, aside from Go! Lokal outlets in malls, Go! Lokal had pop-up stores during the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat and Trade Exhibit at the International Media Center in Conrad Hotel and during the ASEAN MSME Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
DTI also eyes overseas stores at Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) as well as launching an online store.
This initiative is part of the efforts of the government to strengthen MSMEs, which account for 99 percent of total business establishments in the country and employ 60 percent of the national workforce.
