www.smedsep.ph - What's new? - As of April 27, 2005
sme...@mozcom.com
SMEDSEP hosted an SME Donor's Roundtable Meeting last April 14 which
was attended by Secretary Juan B. Santos. The Secretary committed that
DTI will host the next Donor Roundtable in three months.
Enabling Environment
The results of the studies on improving business licensing procedures
in Bacolod and Ormoc cities and the ensuing results from the Action
Planning Workshops are now available here (download report). As a sign
of the LGUs' commitment, the results of the Action Planning Workshop
will be included in Memoranda of Agreements (MoAs) to be signed by
SMEDSEP with Bacolod and Ormoc cities. MoA with Ormoc will also include
the LGU's commitment to the LRED process.
A seminar on Shaping an Enabling Business and Investment Climate will
be organized by SMEDSEP in Manila from July 25-28, 2005. The Asian-wide
seminar will be attended by international and regional experts focusing
on how to make investment reforms work.
Local and Regional Economic Development
At the annual strategic planning workshop of the Ormoc Chamber
facilitated by SMEDSEP, the chamber drafted a one-year operational plan
focusing on a capability building program and revenue generation.
Business Development Services and Demand-Driven Technical Vocation and
Education Training
Mr. Hilz-Ward, short-term expert for Tourism, is currently in the
country with a mission to come up with recommendations for a Tourism
Master Plan for Negros Occidental (April 28-May 13).
Both the BDS and DDTVET components have been conducting interviews with
pre-selected business development service providers and training
providers regarding the assistance that SMEDSEP can offer them (e.g.
technical assistance, capability build-up). After the interviews,
SMEDSEP anticipates receiving proposals from interested service
providers which SMEDSEP would then assess and select.
For DDTVET, the selection process is still ongoing for an IT expert 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 in standard tour
packages in Negros. Meanwhile, the component is also looking for an
expert to conduct a Business Planning Write-shop for training providers
in Cebu (IT) and Negros Occidental (Tourism). For more information,
please see the jobs page.
Baseline data collection on the indicators submitted by GTZ to the
commissioner of the program, the Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has begun. The data will assist
SMEDSEP in monitoring and evaluating changes that will result from its
interventions. Furthermore, the data may provide indications of demand
for services that SMEDSEP intends to focus on which can be provided to
BDS and Training providers and fed into the product development
process.
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.
Thank you for your continued interest in SMEDSEP. Don't forget to click
on www.smedsep.ph for more information and updates regarding the Small
and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program.
- SMEDSEP Moderator