Newly appointed Trade and Industry Secretary Juan Santos is eyeing a strong support system for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to lure more investments to the country.
Santos, in a recent Philippine Economic Briefing held at Marco Polo Hotel here, said SMEs need greater access to credit, markets and technology to improve their productivity.
He said the government hopes to raise P28.8 billion (US$511m) for a credit facility under the "Sulong" loan programme, which would help SMEs spur output and sales.
This is expected to generate a 16 per cent export growth that would translate to the employment of one or two additional workers per SME and provide development of an efficient supply chain and new creative enterprises.
"For investors to come in, we have to maintain happy consumers who believe in the products," he said.
