TARLAC CITY (PIA) -- Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Tarlac and Tarlac Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council (SMEDC) launched the first-ever Business Conference and Expo (BizConEx) 2023.

As part of the celebration of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Week, Tarlac BizConEx 2023 was organized to develop and strengthen Tarlac MSMEs through mentorship, innovation, and networking activities.

PCCI Tarlac President and Tarlac SMEDC Chair Aileen Chan underscored that the three-day event was the result of the convergence among the private sector, corporate partners, local government units (LGUs), and national government agencies in the province.

“We came up with this kind of expo because we want to equip our MSMEs with the essential skills needed to navigate the competitive market through the seminars and skills training provided by our partner-agencies. We also want to bring more buyers to do the B2B business matching for all our local producers,” she stressed.

Topics discussed include Entrepreneurial Mind Setting of the Department of Trade and Industry Tarlac; Barista Training Workshop of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program iFund, and Metals Industry Research and Development Center services of the Department of Science and Technology.

Among the event’s highlights was the roll out of the Go Negosyo 3M (Money, Market, Mentorship) on Wheels or the one-on-one coaching sessions between business experts and mentees, where more than 30 mentors shared their industry best practices to aspiring business professionals.

Aside from the mentorship sessions, the participating start-ups, MSMEs, and potential entrepreneurs received financial aid to support their business ventures.

The event also featured a trade exhibit which showcases the food and non-food products, as well as tourism activities of local businesses and LGUs which are beneficial in their sustainable development.

“This is also a venue to introduce the quality products of Tarlac to local and international investors in line with the initiative of the provincial government. In that sense, this will bring more businesses to Tarlac and better livelihood opportunities to Tarlaqueños. With more investors coming in, we can generate more jobs for our people,” she stressed.

Also, Chan reiterated the collaboration between the private sector and government to help MSMEs in improving their market reach and competitiveness.

Meanwhile, she urged MSMEs to comply with all business regulations mandated by the government, and to focus on saving up for the expansion of their business, noting that consistent hard work and passion will help them achieve success.

Anchored on the theme of “Tara at Magnegosyo!”, this year’s Tarlac BizConEx served as a platform for businesses to gain exposure, build relationships, and gather market insights. (MJSC/TJBM-PIA 3)