DOST to provide tech training, consultancy services for SMEs

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology has expressed its intent to assist small and medium enterprises to take advantage of technology in advancing their businesses and to develop an online presence.

In his recent visit to Cebu, DOST secretary Mario G. Montejo encouraged SMEs to strengthen their presence online as it is one way to get ahead of the competition especially with the onset of the ASEAN economic community.

Montejo said one of DOST’s thrust is to make the Philippines a lead player in technology advancement adding that the agency is now working on assisting entrepreneurs who may want to leverage on the internet and technology.

"We assist SMEs including the micro businesses, to take advantage of technology," said Montejo adding that DOST will provide training and consultancy services for the mainstream business players, through the agency's program for countryside development.

 Meanwhile, Mark Joseph Panganiban, senior sales and marketing specialist of online shopping website--shopinas.com reinforced Montejo's prodding, saying exporters in particular need to establish their presence online to expand their business footprint.

"In the age of the internet, it gives them a lot of opportunity because online marketing can be a cross-border e-commerce. With the ASEAN integration, anybody from the ASEAN region could easily shop online where people could just choose what they want from the Philippines and have it delivered to their destination," Panganiban said.

Panganiban said Filipino exports can use the power of internet to advertise their products to other countries without spending too much and setting actual offices in those locations.

 Simultaneous with its thrust is to encourage innovations among micro and small entrepreneurs specifically in the countryside, Montejo said part of the assistance is to bring these smaller companies' product and services online to make the world as their market.

 Presence online would mean to offer online shopping infrastructure, and venue for customer to interact with the virtually, this is part of entering the Internet retailing portal.

EuroMonitor said that Internet retailing in the Philippines will continue to see vibrant performance during the medium term 2013-2017.

 “The channel’s performance will be further pushed by the increasing number of Filipino customers who are more confident enough to purchase from online companies through their experience of group buying sites. The increasing number of credit card owners in the country, together with the improving logistics will support the growth of the category.

 Growth prospects during the forecast period will remain positive yet will be more moderate at five percent. The total sales from the channel will cap P18 billion by the end of 2017, it pointed out. (FREEMAN)