National Workshop on Accelerating Growth of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Creative Industry Sector for Achieving SDGs in the Philippines

Background

Together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippines, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSDG/DESA), launched the capacity building programme “Creative AGE for SDGs: Accelerating Growth of MSMEs in the Philippines in the Creative Industry Sector” in December 2022. It is an integral part of the successful collaboration between the DTI and DSDG/DESA. The Philippine creative industry sector contributed to 11.6% of total employment in 2021. It plays a significant role in national economic growth by accounting for 6.57% of the total trade volume of the country. The sector has a significant impact on income and job creation, particularly among women and youth. It is a critical engine in realizing inclusive and sustainable development in the Philippines from economic, social, and environmental perspectives. However, the creative industry sector, like the rest of the MSMEs in the Philippines, is susceptible to economic shocks and uncertainties from disasters, especially the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. The Creative AGE for SDGs programme is launched in this background. It is a three-month online programme, which aims to strengthen capacities of women and youth-led MSMEs in the creative industry sector. Following a demand-driven approach, the programme provides specialized training activities together with one-to-one mentorship with engaging methods such as focus group discussions and individual interviews. A total of 18 creative MSME champions and seven (7) creative DTI focal points were identified from the programme. Both the champions and focal points will become master trainers upholding the effective implementation of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act (PCIDA), which is a policy priority of the Government of the Philippines.

This national workshop is fully funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippines. It gathered key stakeholders supporting creative MSMEs in the Philippines. The workshop presented outputs and good practices of the Creative AGE Programme. Through inclusive stakeholder discussions, it also identified potential gaps and challenges constraining MSME resilience and their contributions to SDGs. Results and recommendations from the workshop will feed into policy recommendations on the drafting of the National MSME Development Plan 2023-2028 and the implementation of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act.

Remarks from the Vice President, the Philippines