Secretary Cristobal, Senator Bam Aquino lead unveiling of Manila city’s Negosyo Center. (Photo by Little Wing Luna/DTI)

The 156th Negosyo Center of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was recently inaugurated by DTI Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. and Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV at the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila.

“Negosyo Centers are excellent channels to connect with entrepreneurs, to provide them with assistance, and to ensure that micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) benefit from government trade policymaking and execution,” Cristobal said.

The Negosyo Center is one of DTI’s major programs under its initiative to further boost the country’s micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The new location brings the total number of Negosyo Centers throughout the country to 156. “This new location at the Lucky Chinatown Mall is a very creative way of reaching out to MSMEs,” he pointed out.

Secretary Cristobal explained that Negosyo Centers are one-stop shops for would-be entrepreneurs who can now easily gain access to the key information they would need in setting up an MSME. Among the services and assistance being offered are business name registration, business advisory, and business information and advocacy, as well as schedules for trainings and consultations.

“The DTI has found a passionate ally in Senator Bam Aquino. The Negosyo Center is the result of a first-rate partnership between the legislative and the executive branches of government,” Cristobal said. The Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act No. 10644), authored by Senator Bam Aquino, paved the way for the Negosyo Centers.

The DTI targets to open an additional 143 more Negosyo Centers for this year.

Also present at the inauguration were DTI Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona, DTI – National Capital Region Office (DTI-NCRO) Director Emma Asusano, Megaworld first vice president and commercial division head Kevin Tan, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Manila Chapter president Erwin Malaya, and Atty. Fortune Mayuga of the City of Manila.