Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) from this province will get support from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Antique chapter to develop and market their products.

PCCI Antique president Rani Rodriguez said in an interview Wednesday that there are many local products, such as food, housewares and furniture, that they could enhance to make them attractive in the market.

“The PCCI will be there as a big brother to help the MSMEs make their products saleable and even provide their needed raw materials,” Rodriguez said.

The PCCI is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial offices in Antique for a partnership in assisting the MSMEs.

The organization is also coordinating with local government units (LGUs) for assistance in identifying the initial five MSMEs in their municipalities for product development and marketing training.

“We are also inviting other interested MSMEs to become our members,” he said.

Rodriguez added they are now preparing to hold an Antique Business Expo in April in San Jose de Buenavista to invite business players from outside the province for a possible business matching with the MSMEs.

“We are still fixing the date, but it will be a three-day event where we will be inviting businessmen from other places so they could meet the MSMEs here in Antique,” he said.

Rodriguez said as Antique is an agri-based province, MSMEs could find a market for their products through business matching. (PNA)