www.smedsep.ph What's New as of as of 22 December 2005
Ben Arvin dela Cruz
This is the Monthly Email Newsletter of the
DTI-TESDA-GTZ SMEDSEP Program.
Please visit our website at www.smedsep.ph for more information.
As of 22 December 2005
On Dec. 19-20, 2005, GTZ hosted the annual Monitoring and Planning Workshop with SMEDSEP partners from DTI and TESDA in Tagaytay City. The objectives of the workshop were to review the program’s accomplishments for the year and lessons learned; agree on operational plans and milestones until August 2006, the end of the first phase of the Program; and to clarify the responsibilities of different parties. Despite the tight schedule, all the objectives were met, with more detailed operational planning to take place in each target region in January 2006.
Enabling Business Environment:
- GTZ is supporting the implementation of the SME Development Plan 2004-2010, which was launched by the DTI’s Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council, to make the SME sector the key shaper of the country’s economic growth by 2010. In partnership with the SMED Council, GTZ supported the facilitation of streamlining the 48 activities identified in the SMED Plan to come up with work plans that are significant (oriented toward achieving the goals of the SMED Plan) and feasible (high chance of being implemented short-term). While the workshop report will be made available in the new year, successful facilitation has already led to the 48 activities being streamlined to 12.
- In Ormoc, SMEDSEP’s efforts in improving the business licensing process is making progress in reducing the number of registration steps from 17 to 7. Moreover, MOA with National Government Agencies (NGA) have been signed on information sharing. To further improve their business licensing services, LGU and NGA frontliners in business licensing were trained on Customer Service.
- In Bacolod, 1-2 steps have been reduced in the Business Licensing Process, and the LGU is now revising its business licensing flowchart. When business renew or apply for business licenses in these two pilot cities in January 2006, SMEDSEP will be able to check how much progress has truly been made.
- SMEDSEP Program Manager Martina Vahlhaus, together with Federico Macaranas, Dean of the Asian Institute of Management’ Center for Development Management, attended the Committee of Donor Agencies for Small Enterprise Development’s International Conference on Reforming the Business Environment Conference in Cairo earlier this month. Ms. Vahlhaus and Mr. Macaranas jointly presented the Philippine case study on simplifying business licensing at local government level. The presentation, which was well-received, is available here.
Local and Regional Economic Development:
§ The LRED Training of Trainers was successfully conducted & fully demonstrated strategy of LRED approach. Participants – who are seen as future LRED facilitators – were provided with the necessary skills to conduct a rapid economic appraisal and LRED facilitation techniques and tools.
§ Monitoring of the 9 Lighthouse Projects (see previous update) set up will take place in the new year, in collaboration with DTI.
Business Development Services and Demand-Driven Training:
- In Negros Occidental, a major achievement is that the Negros Island Tourism, Inc. (NITI) is now registered with the Securities Exchange Commission. Next month’s activities will be devoted to developing the NITI marketing plan and assisting NITI for its launch in early Feb.
- Still in Negros Occidental, the Results-Oriented Contracts have been signed with 3 BDS/Training Providers. Product development has also made progress, with SMEDSEP starting to get involved in developing (outdoor) mountain biking in the island as a product.
§ In Cebu, a business plan on the business portal has been submitted to the Cebu Chamber or Commerce and Industries. Results-Oriented Contracts have also been signed with 5 BDS/Training providers.
§ Activities in the future for Cebu include finalizing the concept of an ICT Organization. SMEDSEP will also be involved in holding Cebu’s IT Summit.
Financial Services:
§ In line with promoting synergies between Financial Services and Business Development Services, a FS-BDS knowledge management study tour to Indonesia for decision makers of partner Financial Institutions and organizations was hosted by SMEDSEP in December. Participants included decision-makers from DTI’s Small Business Corporation, the Chamber of Thrift Banks, and Philippine Postal Savings Banks. In the next quarter, the tour participants will try to identify FS-BDS recommendations that can be applied to the Philippine setting
§ In preparation for an intervention in the coming months to study what are regulations that really hinder/facilitate SME lending, data gathering from the point of view of Rural Banks has started.
§ Capacity building is also ongoing in the pilot provinces, particularly on Implementation of SME Finance Strategy & Marketing Training for Thrift Banks.
Please visit our website at www.smedsep.ph for more information.