MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Facebook Philippines, Lazada, and Shopee have partnered to launch a program that will support women entrepreneurs using digital platforms.
The Connecting Women Entrepreneurs to the Digital Economy project of DTI and the private sector aims to equip businesswomen with knowledge in maximizing the use of digital platforms to expand and boost their businesses.
The project will provide integrated digital marketing training on online storefronts, implementing digital marketing promotions, and leveraging digital payments to become effective online sellers.
“This presents the biggest opportunity we can harness in building back our communities during this period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Women entrepreneurs -- as agents of innovation and change -- will help our country bring us towards digital connectivity. As we reopen the economy, we want to see not only a new normal but a better normal,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
The DTI’s Regional Operations Group and Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development will be in charge of implementing the project nationwide.
About 150 personnel of DTI and NATCCO will also undergo a mentorship program to guide the mentees.
The project targets to tap 400 Filipina entrepreneurs across the country who are already selling their products online.
The participants are also eyed to build the digital community in the country that will push for digital transformation among Filipino entrepreneurs.
Lopez said as their businesses grow and expand, this will create more jobs for Filipinos.
According to DTI, 64 percent of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) assisted by the department through the Negosyo Centers are managed by women.
NATCCO data also indicated that 65 percent of its 5.8 million cooperative members are women. (PNA)
