DTI to train vendors, farmers, women become entrepreneurs
SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Trade and Industry in its endeavor to create employment and livelihood opportunities amidst global economic depression has designed a program to train vendors, farmers, women and other small scale business groups to become entrepreneurs to generate income in the countryside.
Jose Divinagracia, Provincial Director, DTI-Antique said we need to create livelihood opportunities to cope with the effects of economic crisis and maximize local resources since entrepreneurs are potent force in driving a progressive economy.
DTI recently launched the program ARISE which stands for A Responsive and Innovative Strategy for Entrepreneurship to train small entrepreneurs, vendors, women, farmers, unemployed among others who are interested to start a business. Potential entrepreneurs will be linked to non-government organizations, cooperatives and other financial institutions that can provide a working capital in a form of loan.
Specific components of the training are Basic Entrepreneurship Training which is scheduled once a week at DTI Office, San Jose, Antique, where successful business practitioners will be invited to share their best practices of successful business management.
Soon after the conduct of Basic Entrepreneurship Training, specific business ideas will be elicited based on their interest and capabilities. For those who have no idea yet, they can be provided with the list of businesses and livelihood opportunities that they can engage in, said Jocelyn P. Perez, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist, DTI.
For those who have ideas on what business they would venture into, they will be trained on tested entrepreneurial development program. Business counseling services will be provided in the areas of marketing, production, organization and management and finance, said Perez.
In addition, Divinagracia emphasized that DTI will be closely working with other agencies in government, non-government organizations, cooperatives, funding institutions, business organizations, academe and other sectors to help mirco-entrepreneurs attain successful business ventures.
With ARISE, DTI is optimistic that the development of new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and assistance to existing ones will generate employment opportunities and more income for vendors, farmers, women, unemployed and other sectors thus help in the poverty alleviation programs of the government especially those affected by the global economic crisis. (PS Mabaquiao/PIA)