BOHOL Micro Small and Medium Information Technology Enterprises (SMITES) gathered for the 1st breakfast forum under the POP-Up Program of the Bohol Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (BEDIPO) on March 29, 2023, at the Ceremonial Hall of the Provincial Capitol.
According to BEDIPO head Maria Fe Dominise, the breakfast forum was held to raise awareness of the PGBh to support IT enterprises and strengthen partnerships with the Information Communications Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry sector.
The forum featured a presentation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) programs through Information Technology Officer Joshua Eleazar Domen and ICT-BPM industry global business trends by National SME sales manager Eldridge Frederick Aldridge.
It also tackled the SMITES/Start-up subsector challenges with a revalidation of workshop outputs on concerns and proposed solutions by ICT Council of Bohol Province, Inc. vice president for SMITES/Start-up Enterprise Jay Paul Aying along with skills mapping and prioritization of skills requirements by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) -Bohol Provincial Director Engr. Winefredo Salas and Supervising TESD specialist Joan Sayon.
Dominise also explained that the POP-Up program is designed to build a community of SMITES, provide support to enhance their business, facilitate linkages with related government agencies and the private sector for support.
The strengthening of the MSME/entrepreneurship sector is a core goal that will foster their involvement in the strategic change agenda of the Provincial Government under the leadership of Governor Aris Aumentado towards economic growth anchored on the national and global roadmap of sustainable development, she said.
Vice Governor Victor Balite welcomed the freelance IT workers as well as IT enterprises and delivered the message of support on behalf of Governor Aris Aumentado.
Meanwhile, former Bohol ICT Council Chair Lai Biliran encouraged Bohol SMITES to become actively involved in influencing their peers to build their community and create a database of their enterprises as well as respective solutions and services so that the province can gain access to available support not only from national agencies but also from industry partners. She shared this while recalling the entry and growth of the IT industry in the province. (PIMO/LMS)
