THE Department of Trade and Industry has clarified the assertions made by an organization of digital advocates that its proposal to put up a marketplace for micro, small and medium enterprises is inessential and does not meet their actual needs.
The online shop that is set to be launched before the end of the year is among the agency’s initiatives, “alongside a suite of complementary assistance such as Go Negosyo centers,” according to the trade chief. “The proposed e-commerce platform will not charge the same fees or arrangements as those of other commercial platforms. It will be free,” he pointed out.
Reacting to Gustilo’s suggestion for DTI’s search for ways to enable the growth of micro to medium businesses, the secretary said that they will gain funding from their banking- and lending institution-partners, among the online store’s benefits. “The platform will also serve as the basis for facilitating the granting of finance to MSMEs,” he added, citing the credit scoring it will provide based on data analytics could be the grounds for banks to extend loans to them.