Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (File photo)
MANILA – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez hopes that the next administration will continue supporting the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and pursue ease of doing business (EODB).
In an interview with Net 25 Thursday, Lopez cited MSME development and ease of doing business as major achievements of the agency during the Duterte administration.
Lopez said the next Congress should see the need for giving total support to MSMEs by allotting budget for trainings, financing, improving the quality of local products, increasing productivity, and integrating them into the wider supply chain.
He added this support will accelerate the development of local MSMEs.
Aside from MSME development, the trade chief hopes that the next administration will continue to pursue reforms in the government to further ease doing business in the country.
Lopez said with the enactment of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Services Delivery Act into law in 2018, the government is bound to complete transactions with the public in three days for simple transactions, seven days for complex, and 20 days for highly technical.
In DTI alone, the agency can process online business name registration in just eight minutes. It takes days in the past to register a business name with DTI, Lopez said.
He added investing in technology and digitalization will help the government to streamline its processes and deliver faster services to the public. (PNA)
