Tacurong City to hold 3rd SULONG Business Week

The Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PSMEDC) is set to carry out the 3^rd SULONG Tacurong Business Week from July 30 – August 03, 2012. Skills enhancement, resources mobilization, investments and business opportunities will be given emphasis all throughout this event.

DTI Provincial Director Nelly Dillera, head Secretariat of the PSMEDC said, Sulong Tacurong, dubbed from Sustaining Unlimited Livelihood Opportunities by Nurturing Growth of SMEs, seeks to boost business and investments in the City. The line up of activities includes Investment Forum, Producers’/Young Entrepreneurs’ and Barangay Agro-Industrial Fair, Entrepreneurial Seminar, Skills Training, Awards and Recognition, Market Matching, TESDA Field Day, Culinary Competition, Diskwento Caravan and the Barangay Day Celebration.

The centerpiece of the celebration shall be the Investment Forum where the Local Investments and Incentives Code shall be presented by Tacurong City Investment Assistance Center or TIAC Manager Dave Salazar. Tax holidays and real property tax holidays await investors in the identified priority areas of Tacurong City which include Livestock production; Processing of sugarcane, coffee, oil palm, banana; Oil palm and rubber plantation and nursery development; BPO services like call center, medical transcription; tourism facilities like hotels, function rooms, leisure facilities and souvenir items production; fresh pond development; engineered bamboo; commercial buildings; and housing facilities.

Launched entrepreneurs of roasted and ground coffee and muscovado that are now selling nationwide and abroad, shall play a part at the Producers’ Fair. Other fascinating products are the twined and braided water hyacinth turned into different kinds of bags and other innovative stuffs which were presented during last years’ National Trade Fair in Manila and will partake in this years’ Mindanao Trade Expo in Davao City. There will also be foodstuffs and craft items using the abundant resources available all over the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat.

Scheduled seminars on Good Manufacturing Practices, 5Ss of Good Housekeeping Standards, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Pricing and Costing, Basic Bookkeeping and Packaging and Labelling targets to explain the basics and assist newly established businesses.

Intended at creating entrepreneurs in the city and barangays, a series of technology training shall be conducted in partnership with Tacurong Investment Assistance Center- LGU Tacurong. These trainings aim to enhance and broaden businessman’s existing business horizon while serving as eye opener for the new entrants. The local resources, skills and marketability were considered in identifying the training to be conducted. Along with these are powdered vegetable production, essential oil production (for spa and massage), healthy bakery foods production and feeds production using banana.

As part of the week long activity, local entrepreneurs who have made significant contribution to the economic development of the city shall be acknowledged through the awarding of Outstanding Businessman, Outstanding Entrepreneur and Outstanding Market Vendor.

There shall also be TESDA Field Day to be conducted. This includes skills competition on fruit carving and table skirting, technopreneurship program, awarding of tools and kits and awarding of scholarship.

As a fitting conclusion of the event, a culinary competition on native delicacies celebrating the many skills and resources of the city shall be showcased. It is open to all interested participants within the surrounding municipalities. This closing shall also be highlighted by the Tacurong City Barangay Day.

 SULONG Tacurong is staged by the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PSMEDC) chaired by the Local Chamber and composed of LGU-Tacurong, DTI-SK as Secretariat, DOST, City Tourism, TESDA, DOLE and the various industry associations in the city./Arianne T. Apatan – DTI-SK