PHL MSMEs have to ‘gear up’ for ASEAN integration —DTI exec

The country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should level up to compete in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration, according to an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

"Ang mahalaga dito we have to gear up... kailangan nakahanda ang ating micro, small and medium enterprises,” DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said in an interview on News to Go on Tuesday. 

"We have to be competitive, not only in quality but also in price," he added.

She said the ASEAN economic integration opens up a market of 600 million people for the country’s businesses.

“Ang tinitingnan natin dito ay ang napakalaking merkado ng ASEAN. This is 600 million consumers na tinitingnan natin na pwede tayo mag-trade, puwede tayo magbenta ng ating goods,” she said.

“Dahil tayo ay nagho-host ngayon for ASEAN, we are really pushing MSME to be front and center,” she added.

The Trade official said the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN this year focuses on the recognition of MSMEs and its vital role to the global value chain.

She took note that the DTI is undertaking programs to support MSMEs’ capacity building.

“‘Yung mga assistance na binibigay natin [such as] product design, product development, ‘yung innovations in terms of being more efficient in the way they produce their products para maging competitive sila,” Maglaya said.

“So hindi pwede 'yung business as usual. Hindi pwede 'yung kung ano 'yung dati mong ginagawa sige-sige ka lang nang sige,” she added. —John Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA News