Go Negosyo, PCCI partner for MSME development

MANILA, Philippines — Non-profit group Go Negosyo recently met with officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) as part of efforts to intensify its partnerships with the country’s largest business groups to align with the government’s push to drive development through micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In a statement, Go Negosyo said its founder Joey Concepcion met with key officials of the PCCI chapters in the National Capital Region.

“The MSME sector is one of the platforms being pushed aggressively as a driver for the country’s growth, and as we roll out more mentoring of the MSMEs, we will need mentors coming from the respected business groups,” Concepcion said during the meeting.

Leading the PCCI were its national chairman George Barcelon, national president Nina Mangio, PCCI NCR area vice president Hernando Delizo and PCCI NCR immediate past vice president Tess Ngan Tian.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Cristina Roque, who is heading the newly formed Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Group, was also present at the meeting.

Members of top business organizations such as the PCCI, the Philippine Franchise Association, the Philippine Retailers Association, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and many more form the pool of volunteers who mentor small and aspiring entrepreneurs during the various free public entrepreneurship mentoring events held regularly by Go Negosyo.

Earlier this year, Go Negosyo said it plans to help at least 200,000 MSMEs by 2028 by giving them access to the three Ms of entrepreneurship – money (capital), markets and mentoring – through its own programs, as well as in partnership with government and other members of the private sector.

Among these programs are the public entrepreneurship mentoring events, structured learning courses, online seminars, national summits and programs focused on youth, women, OFWs, tourism and digital technology.

The non-profit organization also has programs held in cooperation with outreach programs of the government, such as its youthpreneur and agri education projects with the Department of Education, among others.

“The meeting with PCCI became an opportunity to align with the DTI, the private sector’s efforts to scale up MSMEs,” Go Negosyo said.

During the meeting, PCCI officials were also able to discuss with Roque the opportunities presented by the tourism sector, the halal industry and the need for industry data monitoring and evaluation to aid mapping and impact analysis, especially for the MSME sector.