THE acting secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said she will build on the foundation built by the agency on investments, international trade, consumer protection and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development.
At the Malacanang Insider television program yesterday, Ma. Cristina Roque, said the DTI along with its investment promotions agencies Board of Investments and Philippine Economic Zoner Authority, will work closely with the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs led by Secretary Frederick Go in “pushing aggressively (measures) to attract international investors” by promoting the country’s priority industry clusters.
Roque said these clusters are industrial manufacturing and transport technology, media and telecommunication, health and life sciences, modern basic needs and then the resilient economy.
Roque said the country is also attracting investments in retail due to its huge market, a population of 115.6 million.
She said the country has shown to the international community it is open for investments which is why the DTI is doing its share in easing doing business in the country.
Roque has created a special unit and a dedicated email that would make her accessible to consumers and investors. A team will then refer all concerns to the specific departments.
“We need to protect the consumers, we need to make sure products (comply with) the standards,” said Roque, adding the need to strictly regulate products like construction materials and food due to safety and health concerns.
Roque earlier bared her five-point agenda on MSME development: digitalization, diversification, access to funding, franchising and mentoring.
