(Source: By Virgil S. Villanueva, Business World | July 16, 2015)
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to deploy its funds to help the Region VII tourism sector, focusing on shared service facilities (SSF) for small and medium enterprises (SME) involved in the growing travel industry and related retail businesses.
“Our funds for this year for the shared service facilities in Region 7 is P36 million,” said Asteria C. Caberte, DTI Regional Director, on the sidelines of the opening of the Negros Island Trade Fair in this city.
“We hope to present a project this year and we hope to get some fresh funds for other proposals,”
“The budget covers all sectors but our travel-retail efforts focus on wearables and home style. Most of the funds under the shared-service facilities will be for travel and retail,” she said.
Ms. Caberte noted that priority will be given to travel-retail because of its growth potential.
“Travel-retail in 2013, despite calamities, was able to grow by 15.1%. The spending of travelers is not limited anymore. Before it used to be in terminals and airports. But now, tourists buy anything they can bring home which relates to the place they’re visiting,” she said.
Asked about next year’s SSF funding, Ms. Caberte said the total will depend on proposals and the needs of the SMEs.
The SSF program of the DTI aims to address certain production gaps among SMEs. It aims to increase productivity by giving eligible SMEs access to quality facilities.
