BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 28, 2024)—Catalyste+ — a Canadian economic development organization — has partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Nueva Vizcaya to develop micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promote women empowerment.
DTI Nueva Vizcaya Director Michael Paggabao said that in their continuous efforts on MSME development and women empowerment, they have officially kicked off the Accelerating Women Empowerment (AWE) Program in Nueva Vizcaya.
With Catalyste+, formerly the Canadian Executive Service Organization, Paggabao said the DTI Nueva Vizcaya started conducting onsite visits this week and needs assessment of the proposed women entrepreneurs.
Represented by Project Officer Vener Valerio, Catalyste+ offers mentorship and advisory services to strengthen economies in Canada and other emerging countries worldwide.
Paggabao said the AWE Program aims to assist and guide MSMEs, particularly women entrepreneurs and women groups, in “enhancing their capabilities across all aspects of business management, including business operations, product development, financial management, sales and marketing, and customer service.”
“One of the project highlights is the digital transformation for women entrepreneurs [or womenpreneurs], focusing on capacitation training for e-commerce website development and digital marketing,” added Paggabao.
Paggabao said the first batch of proposed MSMEs for this program include the Kaagapay ng mga Magsasaka, Mangangalakal at Eksperto sa Pagpoproseso-Nueva Vizcaya Producers Cooperative in Aritao; the Nueva Vizcaya Cacao Growers Association Inc. and Felisa’s Grind and Brew in Bayombong; the Runruno Retro Weavers Association in Quezon; and Joyce Buko Pie in Bagabag.
Valerio discussed specific details of the program and interviewed women entrepreneurs, who shared a brief background of their businesses and associations.
He noted that among the initial issues and concerns raised were “challenges in financial management, inventory management, pricing and costing, and marketing.”
Paggabao said the information gathered by the team would undergo assessment, most of which would be done online, before the deployment of Canadian experts and consultants in the province, who would then conduct training and mentoring sessions with the MSMEs.
“This initiative represents a promising step towards empowering women entrepreneurs in Nueva Vizcaya, providing them with the tools and support needed to thrive in a competitive business landscape and contribute to economic development,” he added.
Also joining the team accompanying the Catalyste+ representatives were Business Development Division chief Lenore Lee Lopez, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist (STIDS) Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program’s Flomilyn de la Cruz, TIDS Robelyn Mae Lising, and Junior Business counselors Kristine Dian Calimag and Precious Mae Marzan. LEANDER C. DOMINGO