“Taking Mindanao Micro & Small Enterprises to the Next Level”
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
The Mindanao Micro and Small Enterpreneurs’ Summit and Trade Caravan is about providing opportunities for poor micro-entrepreneurs to take their livelihood projects to the next level and transforming it into growth-oriented micro and small enterprises. It is also about providing opportunities for bigger enterprises to establish broader networks and partnerships with smaller enterprises and tie-ups with MSME support service providers.
In the Philippines, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprises 99.6% of the country’s total enterprises and contributes 30-32% of the country’s GDP. Micro-enterprises alone make up 91% of the total enterprises in the Philippines.
MSMEs also play an important role in job creation and poverty reduction as they provide employment to 70% of the Philippine’s labor force. In poor regions and rural areas, MSMEs are sometimes the only source of employment and MSMEs tend to employ poor and low-income workers. According to the World Bank, MSMEs are the largest provider of employment in most countries and a major source of technological innovation.
The challenge now is not just to create more micro and small enterprises, but also to transform them into growth oriented enterprises to positively contribute to the country’s over-all economic growth.
Microfinance institutions (MFIs) play the lead role in developing the micro and small enterprise sector in the country, particularly focusing on low-income households. However, microfinance alone is not enough to uplift the poor from poverty, and so, MFIs began providing and/or facilitating enterprise development services as well for their respective clients as part of their programs.
The intention is to help induce the growth of its member-clients and to encourage them to move from the livelihood-subsistence level and graduate them to micro and small enterprises.
Understanding this need and in support of its member MFIs efforts, the Mindanao Microfinance Council organized its first regional Micro-Entrepreneurs Summit and Trade Fair last April 4-5, 2009 in Butuan City. This event was participated in by MMC member-MFIs and their clients in the CARAGA Region. The Micro-Entrepreneurs’ Summit is also one of the major activities of the Mindanao Microfinance Year (April 2009 – March 2010).
Taking-off from the success of the first Micro-Entrep Summit, MMC is now organizing the Entrep Summit and Trade Caravan in Cagayan de Oro City on October 19-21, 2009 and in Davao City on November 18-20, 2009 plus a series of smaller local trade fairs in Zamboanga City, Dipolog City, and General Santos City in early 2010.
The Entrep Summit and Trade Caravan will culminate in a major gathering in Davao City on March 2010, at the closing ceremonies of the Mindanao Microfinance Year.
With the growing importance of MSMEs in Mindanao, MMC realized the need of conducting this Entrep Summit and Trade Caravan which offers a good opportunity for micro and small entrepreneurs to showcase and promote their products and services, to access information and knowledge about successful practices, and to establish a network to help facilitate exchange and access to more market opportunities.
Different organizations are expected to participate in the event representing microfinance institutions (MFI), MFI clients, development agencies, and other NGOs. Also invited to participate are other entrepreneurs and corporations that would benefit in participating in a network of micro-small entrepreneurs and service providers. This summit aims to encourage greater collaboration among micro and small entrepreneurs and service providers in improving the marketing of products and services of MSME’s.
OBJECTIVES
This Mindanao Micro and Small Entrepreneurs’ Summit and Trade Caravan specifically aims to achieve the following objectives:
1. To promote the products and services of micro and small entrepreneurs in Mindanao.
2. To facilitate the exchange of ideas and practices among entrepreneurs
3. To build a network and expose participants to broader market opportunities
4. To foster collaboration between big and small enterprises
THE PARTICIPANTS
The Micro and Small Entrepreneurs Summit and Trade Caravan hopes to bring together a diverse group of participants both at the local and national level composed of the following:
MFIs
Member MFIs of MMC will be the main movers of the event. Other partners will also be invited to participate.
Each MFI is expected to send two to five of its officers and/or staff to participate in the activities and program. A minimum of 15 MFIs are expected to participate in each area where the summit and trade caravan will be held.
Micro-Entrepreneurs
Each participating MFI is expected to bring five to ten entrepreneur-clients to participate in the trade fair as exhibitors or participants in the program. Approximately 75 to 100 micro-entrepreneurs are expected to participate.
Small and Medium Enterprise Owners
The trade fair is open to local small and medium enterprises for them to promote their products or services. Approximately 10 to 15 local enterprises are expected to participate in each area where the trade caravan will be held.
Large Corporations
Big organizations and corporations are also expected to participate, particularly those that stand to benefit in building up networks with smaller local enterprises and with MFIs.
BDS Facilitators and Service Providers
Local and national organizations providing enterprise development assistance to MSMEs will also be invited to attend and participate in the event.
Government Agencies and LGUs
Local and national government agencies to be invited are those that have active programs promoting MSMEs and those that benefit from tie-ups with local MFIs.
THE EVENT
The Summit and Trade Caravan is a three-day event with the first day devoted to the opening ceremonies, messages of guest speakers (mostly local officials), presentation of government agencies with MSME programs, and presentation of corporate sponsors.
The second day is devoted to livelihood skills training wherein participating micro-entrepreneurs can gain new business ideas or enhance existing skills. Product development clinics / workshops will also be conducted through-out the day to help the participating entrepreneurs improve their products and its marketing.
The third day is devoted to presentations of successful entrepreneurs who can give practical recommendations or ideas to participants on how to improve their enterprises and their entrepreneurial skills. BDS facilitators / providers will also be given the opportunity to share and discuss with participants their services during this day.
In between activities and after the day programs, special activities will be held to attract the general public to visit the trade fair area.
The venue was selected to accommodate a large audience. The event itself is open to the public and an estimated three to five thousand visitors are expected to visit the trade fair area.
MMC will be promoting the event Mindanao wide through local media networks and through direct invitations to selected business establishments and associations in Cagayan de Oro and Davao Cities and in surrounding regions.
INVITED BUSINESS SECTORS:
The following companies / business sectors are invited to participate:
1. Packaging and Printing companies
2. Franchisers
3. Information and Communications Technology service providers
4. Banking and Finance
5. Agriculture products and services
6. Training and Livelihood Skills / Vocational Schools
7. Food / Food Processing Sector
8. Dealers / Distributors / Networking
9. Insurance / Remittance Services
10. Novelty Item manufacturers /Decors / Furnitures
