Nat’l competitiveness summit called

President Arroyo underscored yesterday the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the fight against poverty even as she ordered the holding of a national competitiveness summit and the creation of a national competitiveness council.

Speaking at the launching of the SME Exposition at the Market! Market! shopping mall in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Mrs. Arroyo said the celebration of SME Week is in recognition of the important role played by SMEs in national development.

"The national SME agenda spearheads the fight against poverty," she said.

She added that part of her 10-point agenda of creating six to 10 million jobs involves developing and enticing members of society to go from being employees to becoming entrepreneurs and setting up their own businesses.

The President said she has instructed Trade Secretary Peter Favila to conduct a "National Competitiveness Summit" in August led by a "National Competitiveness Council" to entice entrepreneurs to come out and invest in their own business.

"Our entrepreneurs are part of our global competitiveness and that is why in order to help you... I hope the SMEs will participate in (the summit)," she said.

Earlier in the program, Favila presented to the President a progress report on the implementation of the 2004-2010 SME Development Plan.

"We have enhanced overall SME competitiveness, increased productivity, product quality, output and sale only two years into the implementation of the SME Development Plan," Favila said.

He added that the holding of trade fairs and selling missions have helped the SME Development Plan to facilitate total combined exports sales of $188 million and domestic sales of P176 million.

The celebration of SME Development Week during the third week of July each year is embodied in Proclamation No. 256 issued by former President Fidel Ramos.

This year’s SME Development Week from July 17 to 23 has the theme "Sulong Negosyo." — Paolo Romero