PBSP business forum series slated in Davao

PBSP business forum series slated in Davao
PIA News Agency
August 10, 2010

Davao City (10 August) - The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) has invited micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to attend its 2010 Enterprise Development Forum Series to be held in Manila, Cebu and Davao.

The Davao-leg of the forum will be on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1:00-5:00 pm, Orchid Room, Apo View Hotel, Davao City. The Manila series was held last July 27 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, while the Cebu series was on August 4 at the Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City.

This year's theme is "Responsible Business for MSMEs: Practical Approaches Towards an Eco-Friendly Business". Invited keynote speaker is internationally recognized policy advisor, environmental planner and consultant, Mr. Elmer Mercado, EnP, who will share his insights and experiences in implementing environmental sustainability initiatives for MSMEs. As a response, eco-friendly innovations of selected clients and/or PBSP member companies will be featured as testimonies where guests can draw inspiration from in employing their own environment sustainable undertakings.

During the forum, Volunteer Advisers of PBSP's Business Advisory Program (BAP) will also be given recognition for their invaluable contribution in the growth and development of BAP-assisted MSMEs. PBSP new Chief Executive Advisor, Klaas Oreel, on his first public engagement for the foundation, will spearhead the recognition of the 26 volunteers deployed across the country during the previous year.

BAP delivers business advisory services thru the assistance of Filipino volunteer experts to help MSMEs improve their business. It is among PBSP's response to the clamor for job creation by promoting MSME development.

Since 2003, BAP has generated 669 jobs across the country, nearly half of which are women. 115 of its assisted MSMEs had also demonstrated improvements in their business performance levels such as increase in sales and profits, new markets and products developed, improved operation efficiency and additional investments.

The forum is designed to be a common venue for learning, information dissemination, business-to-business (B2B) networking among MSMEs, financial institutions, and other business development service providers. It is part of the Enterprise Development Program of PBSP.

PBSP is the country's largest corporate-led social development foundation leading the promotion and practice of corporate citizenship. It has been influencing companies to integrate social responsibility into their core businesses, and advocating the application of business solutions to poverty. PBSP operates nationwide with projects in education, health, sustainable livelihood and enterprise development, the environment and disaster rehabilitation. (PIA)