What's new? - As of April 11, 2005
sme...@mozcom.com
· Simon White, international expert on Private Sector Development,
will be in the Philippines on April 11-15 to finalize a course on
Enabling Business and Investment Climate, review SMEDSEP's program
strategy, and conduct Policy Reform Briefings.
· The results of the studies on improving business licensing
procedures in Bacolod and Ormoc cities were presented at Action
Planning Workshops in both cities during the last week of April. The
Action Plans will be released by consultants from the Ateneo School of
Government in the coming days.
Local and Regional Economic Development
· Plans are underway so that MoA with the LGUs of Ormoc, Baybay,
Palompon, Carigara can be signed to ensure commitment to the LRED
process, hopefully by May.
· A consultation meeting with market vendors on the viability of the
introduction of cold storage/warehousing facilities in Ormoc was held
earlier this month.
· As part of SMEDSEP's commitment to strengthening the capacity of
business associations, the Program will be supporting the annual
strategic planning workshop of the Ormoc Chamber through facilitation
and workshop design later this month.
· In an effort to get NGOs on-board the LRED process, SMEDSEP has
begun collaborating with NGOs in Ormoc such as AFFIRE and the Rural
Development Institute.
Business Development Services and Demand-Driven Technical Vocation and
Education Training
· Andreas Meyn from GFA is in the Philippines on a backstopping
mission on the possible linkages between components 2, 3 and 4.
· The Balanced Scorecard/Organizational Development Process will soon
begin with CEDFIT or the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for
Information Technology
· DDTVET is currently looking for an Information Technology expert
and trainer to design and conduct a course on 'Didactic Training for
IT Trainers', as well as a Creative Writer to design and conduct a
training course on writing commentaries and scripts for destinations
included in standard tour packages in Negros. For more information on
these vacancies, please refer to the 'Jobs' link.
Financial Services
· In Postal Bank Headquarters, a working group is continuing to
streamline SME credit procedures and an SME credit manual. Credit
manuals are also being finalized with the Rural Banks of Talisay and
Sugbuanon, both in Cebu.
· In Negros, an SME Credit Seminar will be held with Negros
Occidental Federation of Rural Banks (NOFRB). The SME Credit
Department at the New Rural Bank of Victorias is also being built-up.
For more information about SMEDSEP, visit it's website at
www.smedsep.ph