Mabilog: Business-friendly Iloilo City helps MSMEs

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Business-friendly Iloilo City Government is making life easy for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to become better driver of economy.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog delivers the welcome remarks for the National MSME Summit 2015.

This was the message of Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog at the opening of National MSME Summit at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) Sept. 21.

A prelude to Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) SME Ministerial Meeting on Sept. 25, the event inspired entrepreneurship and incited entrepreneurial fever in Iloilo and other parts of the country represented by their development councils.

“The city government under my watch isn’t just paying lip service for development of this sub-sector. To encourage growth of entrepreneurship, we’ve trimmed processing time for business permits to 30 minutes today,” stressed Mabilog.

He added the city created business-friendly framework conditions and market development for services relevant to MSMEs, including meeting with banking sector to improve access of MSMEs to short, middle and long-term financial credit, among others.

To create and nurture steady stream of Ilonggo entrepreneurs, the Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC) is also providing appropriate free hands-on livelihood, vocational and technological training to unemployed youths and adults.

The city government-operated TIIC offers a wide range of free TESDA-accredited courses including food processing, electronic, carpentry, plumbing, and automotive classes, among others.

TIIC enabled prospective entrepreneurs to acquire skills on technical trades and gain exposure in areas of business operations such as business skill development, identification of appropriate technology and opportunity guidance.
Many graduates have since put up their own MSMEs and are now playing important roles in the socio-economic development besides providing employment to thousands of Ilonggos.

Mabilog said MSMEs are engines of any development-oriented economy and because of inherent labor intensive production processes, they also provide viable platform for inclusive growth and job creation.

The city has more than a fair share of MSMEs in operation which bolstered economy, helped local government reduced poverty, and shaped business environment while developing entrepreneurial potential and stimulating competition.
Mabilog encouraged entrepreneurship and creation of MSMEs as vibrant sub-sector indispensable for achieving sustainable economic transformations.

The city continues to take initiatives and partner with both public and private sectors to assist MSMEs compete in global market.
The metropolis is focused on maintaining growth of MSMEs because it believed the sector is not only an important constituent of economy but is also playing a crucial role in realizing the goal to make Iloilo City the top destination and the best livable city in the country.

United in purpose and intent, MSMEs could easily fuel the nation’s non-stop drive for a better future. [via Iloilo City Gov't Facebook | Photo: PIA Iloilo]

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