President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Sunday raised the need for a public-private partnership style system to assist start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in growing their businesses.

The Chief Executive made the suggestion during a situation briefing by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Western Visayas regional office on the sidelines of the President’s trip for the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City.

With the numerous projects of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) supporting start-up businesses and MSMEs, Marcos said the agency should come up with a system that will connect them with private financiers and investors to help them sustain and grow their business.

Marcos said a system should be put in place to establish a platform that will connect all MSMEs to all information and private companies and entities that would help them enhance their business.

“We should be ready to bring our support one step further. There should be a support system to assist start-ups and our MSMEs by opening doors to new connections, get them to the digital world to help them connect with private companies for support,” the President pointed out.

DTI should ramp up efforts to introduce the new businesses to the public so that those who may be interested in joining or supporting the business may do so, Marcos said.

“Make people aware of these businesses kasi madaming magaganda so that we can find people to partner with them,” he said.

In his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos reiterated the government’s “commitment to work hand-in-hand with all stakeholders to make certain that MSMEs are protected and provided with ample opportunities.” | PND