The 14th Philippine SME (PHILSME) Business Expo, organized by Mediacom Solutions Inc., concluded a successful two-day event at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, Metro Manila. The expo brought together 8,000 attendees, fostering a vibrant atmosphere of innovation, collaboration, and business growth for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The opening ceremony, hosted by renowned broadcast journalist Rico Hizon, was supported by Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Domini S. Velasquez of the Office of the Chief Economist. The expo connected SMEs with industry experts, offered innovative solutions, and provided opportunities for business growth. Attendees gained valuable insights, explored new opportunities, and pushed their businesses toward sustainable success.

PHILSME Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “It’s not every day that you get to have more than 120 exhibitors and over 180 business solutions come together under one roof to showcase what they offer for SMEs.” She added, “Our overall objective is to help them come together, collaborate with each other, and showcase their business solutions.”

SMEs hold immense potential for supporting the Philippine economy, as they drive employment, income, and overall development. They represent a significant portion of businesses in the country, accounting for 99.59%, based on the 2022 List of Establishments (LE) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). However, challenges like limited resources, keeping up with the evolving market, and forging strategic partnerships can hinder their growth.

Esguerra-Abrenilla stressed that the success of the expo is a testament to the organization’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of SMEs in the country. She stated, “We will continue to provide valuable resources, opportunities, and support to empower this important sector and foster the spirit of collaboration within the Philippine business landscape.”

The expo featured keynote speakers from various companies, including project management platform Odoo, which offered solutions for streamlining and automating business operations; Security Bank, which discussed financing solutions that empower SMEs through financial inclusion; Toyota Financing, which addressed livelihood through accessible transportation modes; and creative platform Canva, which empowered attendees by teaching them how to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their creative projects.

These solutions and opportunities were presented by over 120 sponsors and exhibitors across diverse sectors, including finance, banking, advertising, healthcare, IT, logistics, franchising, and telecommunications. Esguerra-Abrenilla emphasized that the support given to SMEs extends beyond the expo through the Philippine Business Network, a monthly gathering of Philippine business owners to stay updated with new offers from different companies and interact with other industry service providers.

As PHILSME looks ahead to future engagements, the organization remains committed to empowering SMEs, start-ups, and entrepreneurs through the next exhibit on November 22 and 23, 2024, the 15th edition of the SMX Convention Center Manila expo.

For more information about PHILSME and upcoming events, visit http://www.PhilSME.com and their social media pages.