Makati – Jointly organized, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) has officially launched the MSME capacity building programme “Creative AGE for SDGs: Accelerating Growth among Creative MSMEs in the Philippines” last 6 December 2022 via Zoom virtual conferencing attended by micro, small medium enterprises (MSMEs) Creative Champions, UN DSDG/DESA representative, Local Government Units, and DTI Regional and Provincial Offices.

The creative industry as part of the MSMEs sector in the Philippines is diverse and critical to national economic growth. The sector has a significant impact on export earnings, income, and job creation, particularly among women and youth. However, the creative industry sector and MSMEs active in this sector area are vulnerable to economic shocks and uncertainties from disasters, especially the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters. The World Risk Index reports that the Philippines tops as the most vulnerable to natural disasters. Specifically, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need to implement robust policies and good practices aimed at strengthening MSME capacities in the creative industry sector in the Philippines and elevating their resilience to economic shocks and uncertainties.

It is a 3-month online program which aims to strengthen the business resilience of women and youth-led MSMEs in the creative industries and elevate critical roles that MSMEs in enabling innovations and collaborating with key stakeholders for sustainable development. Through MSME capacity building, the programme will expand MSME contributions to progress towards SDGs in the Philippines, especially no poverty reduction (SDG 1), quality education (SDG 4), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). ♦

Date of Release: 12 December 2022