PLDT targets to link 1,500 MSMEs to supply chain

MANILA, Philippines – About 1,500 local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will talk with Silicon Valley veterans about gearing up to be part of the global supply chain.

This is the third year that the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) – soon to be called PLDT, Incorporated – has carried out its “inclusive growth” initiative, linking small players with global game changers, such as Uber Technologies, Incorporated.

“Only 1% of MSMEs are online. We have to be competitive. Business owners have become savvier and more informed on the viable technological solutions out there that could benefit their business,” Albert Mitchell Locsin, PLDT vice-president and PLDT Smart SME Nation head, said during a press conference in Makati City on Wednesday, April 13.

“Now the challenge for them is how to make these solutions work for their other critical business units that have a stake in their success,” Locsin added.

Through PLDT Smart SME Nation, the telco has called on Filipino entrepreneurs to look beyond their information technology (IT) operations in digital information through its third biggest technology conference for MSMEs, TechIsland 3.0.

Last year, the PLDT unit was able to gather 1,000 entrepreneurs to learn from, and market, their services to big guns in the event.

Big gun initiates inclusive growth

This year, PLDT Smart SME Nation targets 1,500 MSME participants. (READ: What will the Philippines gain from hosting APEC 2015?)

Locsin said TechIsland 3.0 will feature Silicon Valley veterans and industry leaders who will talk about conquering new territories through different technology tools and mindsets that are apt for today’s dynamic landscape.

Plenary speakers will include Uber Philippines country manager Laurence Cua, DENTSU Jayme Syfu CEO Merlee Jayme, PLDT executive vice-president and ePLDT president and CEO Eric Alberto, and Silicon Valley veteran and PLDT chief strategy advisor Winston Damarillo.

VMV Hypoallergenics CEO Laura Verallo De Bertotto will lead the session for business owners and CEOs; while FlySpaces owner Mario Berta will talk about tapping the right audiences and expanding market reach.

Voyager Innovations COO Paolo Azzola will handle the session for the finance and procurement attendees, tackling innovative solutions to help improve operations; while PLDT chief technology and information advisor Joachim Horn will give management professionals a rundown of available tools to ease operations.

“It used to be that tech solutions are strictly for the business of IT but that is not the case now. There are now innovations that are geared towards a business’ sales & marketing, finance, procurement, and even research and insights tools for the owners,” Locsin said.

In the Philippines, MSMEs account for about a third of the gross domestic product, represent 98% of all registered businesses, and employ more than 50% of the entire domestic workforce. – Rappler.com