The growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the retention of existing investments in the country amid stronger competition from abroad will be the main focus of newly appointed Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima in his six months in the department.
Purisima, who will take his oath before President Arroyo today, said he is not yet certain if he would remain in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) even if he is asked to stay beyond 30 June 2004, the end of the term of the current administration.
With this, Purisima said he will just pursue “small things that we can achieve until 30 June 2004.”
“I’m a pragmatic individual. I don’t have any notion that we can achieve something earthshaking in six months,” Purisima said.
To make an impact in such a short period, Purisima said a key part of his agenda will be the SMEs, which he said are the real engine for growth of the economy.
