SURIGAO CITY, Philippines – Aiming to be more locally and globally competitive, the government is setting a two-day “2011 Negosyo Caravan” to business group in this city next week, it was learned yesterday.

The caravan will also help business group in the Caraga region to be more productive, knowledgeable on marketing and in the field of entrepreneurship, it was also learned.

The “Negosyo Caravan” will be undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP).

The DTI’s RuMEPP officials and resource speakers during the event will be teaching some other techniques and updates on marketing of various business opportunities to the members and groups of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The caravan will be on May 30-31 this year which will begin at the City Gymnasium here. The caravan also intends to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs through the provision of business development services (BDS).

“This two-day event will feature motivational and knowledgeable resource speakers on the field of entrepreneurship, marketing and product development, said Region XIII DTI Regional Director Brielgo O. Pagaran, in a press statement. For the food MSMEs, there will also be sessions on packaging/labeling and good manufacturing practices.

During these sessions, entrepreneurships will also be given inputs on improved methods and advantages of appropriate packaging, labeling and processing technologies.

Also, in response to the government’s climate change mitigation program, a half-day briefing on Green Manufacturing will highlight the second day. Environment friendly processing technologies and how this will enhance enterprise efficiency will be discussed, Pagaran said.

Simultaneous to this will be a separate session on Franchising. Potential and attractive franchising package as well as the mechanism of venturing into various business opportunities will be explained by experienced resource persons in this field.