A collaboration between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and an international funding agency has developed a one-stop webpage to enable entrepreneurs to future-proof their micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States Agency for International Development’s (ASEAN-USAID) Inclusive Growth in ASEAN Through Innovation and the DTI’s Philippine Trade Training Center-Global MSME Academy added the “business continuity and resiliency” (BCR) tab in the e-learning platform.

In a statement, the DTI-Central Visayas said under the new tab, academy users can access e-learning modules, webinars, communities of practice, and curated tools and resources on BCR to equip and support them in the post-pandemic economic recovery and transformation.

In a roadshow in Cebu City on Tuesday, over 200 online and physical MSMEs participants were given an overview of the academy’s four courses to aid small businesses in BCR planning which includes transforming mindsets and teams, managing customers digitally, MSME growth engine, and future-proof your business.

In the online platform, these four courses are available in English, Vietnamese, Thai, and Bahasa Indonesia.

Maria Elena Arbon, DTI-Central Visayas regional director, thanked their partners for bringing the roadshow closer to the MSMEs in Cebu.

The BCR tab will help MSMEs develop and expand their businesses, especially from their experiences during the pandemic and Typhoon Odette, she said.

The roadshow was also conducted to commemorate the annual “International MSME Day,” celebrated every June 27 to honor its role in achieving sustainable development goals.

The academy was developed as part of a collaborative effort among the USAID, the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC), and the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSME.

The core of the academy is a series of courses for MSMEs provided at no cost by international organizations and US-ABC member companies.

In 2021, the academy was fully upgraded to improve the overall user experience and accessibility of the website. (PNA)