PRESS RELEASE: GTZ PSP and AIM Policy Center Inks Agreement for PCCRP 2009

[Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program]

PRESS RELEASE

GTZ PSP and AIM Policy Center Inks Agreement for PCCRP 2009

Last September 11, 2009, the GTZ Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP)
Program and AIM Policy Center signed an agreement for the Philippine
Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project (PCCRP) 2009. This is the
third year that PSP-SMEDSEP is supporting the project. It is also
being co-financed by the Local Implementation of National
Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) Project of USAID.

The Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project is one of the
core activities of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center. It
is a biennial project that measures and ranks Philippine cities’
competitiveness using a set of relevant indicators that reflect the
overall local economic and socio-political systems, processes and the
capacity of cities to provide a nurturing environment for its
businesses and residents. The number of cities covered by the project
has increased from only 10 cities in 1999 to 90 cities in 2007.

The SMEDSEP, a development cooperation project between the Republic of
the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany, aims to improve
the business and investment climate for SME in the Philippines
especially in the Visayas. SMEDSEP contributes to the efforts of the
Philippine government to improve the framework conditions for private
sector development in the country.

SMEDSEP is implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) at national, regional and provincial levels and the GTZ
on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ).

The SMEDSEP’s financial services aim to support financial institutions
in providing more finance to SME on a sustainable basis. This requires
improving the capacities of partner financial institutions to
efficiently manage commercially viable SME portfolios and to offer
innovative and target group oriented financial services.

GTZ is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable
development with worldwide operations owned by the German Government.
For 30 years, it has been providing forward looking contributions to
political, economic, ecological and social development in partner
countries. GTZ supports reform and change processes in an increasingly
globalized world, often working under difficult conditions. GTZ`s
major approach to facilitate change is promoting capacity development
of people and partner organizations as well as improving institutions
and frame conditions in partner countries. The joint projects and
programs are outcome and impact oriented. They contribute towards
socioeconomic progress.

Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program
http://www.smedsep.ph