1st MSME Business Expo: Promoting and Building Partnerships

In celebration of the 31st founding anniversary of the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) with the theme “GRASSROOTS TO GLOBAL: Breaking New Grounds on Firm Foundations”, academic departments of CCDC conducted its 1st MSME Business Expo: Promoting and Building Partnerships with a Business Talk and a Bookkeeping Seminar under Sumika-Sika Tako Series. The activities took place at the Students Open Lounge, Tupay-ya Complex entrance, and CCDC Board Room last March 7-23, 2024, from 8:00am to 5:00pm. It involved a collaborative participation between the Community-Based Education School (CES) of the College of Business Education and Administration (CBEA) with the Graduate School’s Capability and Research Engagement (CaRE), College of Law’s Community Legal Aid Center (CLAC) and the College of Accountancy (COA). It was open to the community, especially:

• students with small businesses,
• employees with home-made businesses,
• micro and small business owners,
• cooperatives, women’s associations,
• the adopted community of Banayakeo and Cayapes, and
• other MSMEs.

A business expo for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is a strategic platform for growth, innovation, and networking. It brings together MSMEs, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts, facilitating knowledge exchange, market access, and partnership opportunities. The expo aimed to address the challenges MSMEs face in accessing markets, technology, and finance. It promotes visibility, brand recognition, and market presence, enabling MSMEs to scale up, innovate, and contribute to socio-economic development.

Key participants in the expo included:

• Load Manna Consumer Cooperative (LMCC): A consumer cooperative in Benguet formed by Load Manna E-Loading Dealers and Retailers.
• Benguet State University (BSU) BS Entrepreneurship Students: Adding an element of academic innovation, students from the BSU BS Entrepreneurship program showcased their creative outputs, featuring innovative food products, and clothing lines infused with a Cordilleran touch.
• CCDC Employees: Employees utilized the platform to exhibit and market their homemade products.
• CCDC 4th Year BS Entrepreneurship Students: CBEA students demonstrated their technical knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit by displaying their projects in hydroponic farming, highlighting sustainable and modern agricultural techniques of the Cordillera region.

Business Talks
The CBEA hosted a Business Talk seminar attended by CBEA students and facilitated by experts from DOST and DTI. Dr. Sheila Marie Singa-Clever, Provincial Director of PST under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), discussed their Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). This nationwide program provides technical assistance and funding to MSMEs to adopt technological innovations, improve product quality, and increase productivity and competitiveness. Also, Ms. Shyna Tuazon, a business counselor from the Negosyo Center of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), discussed crucial aspects of Product Labeling and Packaging. DTI, through its Negosyo Centers, frequently holds sessions on this topic, which is vital for MSMEs to comply with regulatory requirements and enhance their marketability.

Bookkeeping Seminar
A bookkeeping seminar which was handled by the College of Accountancy, through their resource speaker Ms. Jaleh Lomirez, is a valuable educational opportunity for individuals and small business owners to understand basic accounting principles and bookkeeping practices. This knowledge can help entrepreneurs manage their finances, scale operations, attract investors, and seek financing. It equips participants with the skills and resources needed for financial success and stability. The College of Law’s CLAC provided on-site legal assistance to MSMEs on necessary business regulatory requirements and other legal concerns.

The activities conducted underscores CCDC’s dedication to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aimed to venture into new partnerships with the local community and provide an avenue for our stakeholders to gain experience and promote their businesses for the community to appreciate (SDG 1, SDG 2). Similarly, students’ participation is widely appreciated for the success of these activities for the reason that they are invited to showcase and market their innovative products (SDG 4, SDG 8).

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