
The 14th Philippine SME (PHILSME) Business Expo, organized by Mediacom Solutions Inc., concluded a successful two-day run at the SMX Convention Center Manila last May 10 and 11.
It attracted 8,000 attendees and fostered innovation, collaboration, and growth for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Expo connected small businesses and entrepreneurs with industry experts, offered innovative solutions, and opened new business opportunities. SMEs gained valuable insights and explored new opportunities to drive their businesses toward sustainable success.
“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,” PHILSME Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla said.
“Our overall objective is to help them come together, collaborate with each other, and have them 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 emphasized 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.
“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,” Esguerra-Abrenilla said.
Among the keynote speakers during the event were representatives from Security Bank, Toyota Financing, creative platform Canva, and project management platform Odoo.
These are among the 180 business solutions and opportunities presented by over 120 sponsors and exhibitors across diverse sectors, including finance, banking, advertising, healthcare, IT, logistics, franchising, and telecommunications, amongst many others.
The 15th edition of PhilSME will be on November 22 to 23, 2024, at the SMX Convention Center Manila.