CEBU CITY, Cebu, June 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 7 has been actively promoting the digital transformation of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Central Visayas through its e-commerce and digital marketing mentoring program.

DTI7 has conducted the first batch of the said digital training program which was participated in by ten MSMEs.

Through the program, participants were given modules on digital marketing, ways how to reach their customers using the online platform, and content creation.

A total of three batches of mentoring program will be done and DTI7 is expecting more MSMEs to join the next two batches of the program.

DTI7 also initiated the Kapatid Mentor Me Program (KMME), an online mentoring program that aims to assist MSMEs in developing and improving their businesses through digitalization.

Under the KMME, business owners can avail of the programs and free services that involve lectures and training in improving their product photos and descriptions.

Also, MSMEs will be trained on various digital marketing strategies that will help their businesses adapt to the fast-changing digital environment.

According to DTI7, there is a significant growth in the number of MSMEs in Central Visayas who use the e-commerce platforms, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when restrictions were imposed, affecting the physical operations of most businesses.

From around 18,000 online businesses in 2020, an increase of 18% was observed the following year where they listed and registered around 22,000 e-commerce businesses in Region 7 by the end of 2021.

“Tungod sa pag develop sa technology, ang ato sang mga MSMEs napugos og adapt sa ilang mga negosyo. Maayo karon ang response sa mga Cebuanos kung diin mas na appreciate na nila karon ang digitalization and ang DTI naa nay gihan-ay na mga initiatives para mo go nationally and internationally ang ilang mga products and businesses (Due to the fast-paced changes in technology, our MSMEs have been forced to adapt in their businesses. Cebuanos can now better appreciate digitalization and DTI is slowly implementing initiatives so their products and businesses can go nationally and internationally)," said Joenero Bollozos, division chief of the Industry Development Division of DTI-7.  (RGC/PIA7)