How MSMEs in the PH Can Grow Their Global Footprint

Updated , Published at 7:26 PM PHT,
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Grow Your Global Footprint w/ "Think Global, Act Local"

Introduction

After a stint as an economic researcher, and working for our family business in microfinance, I began night classes in theological education with other lay people and a few religious at CICM Maryhill School of Theology. This was only a few months after the PH People Power Revolution in happened.

  • A theological slogan taught at the school resonated well with us lay theology students: "Think Globally, Act Locally".
  • Although the origins of the slogan are not traced to just one person, in the context of theology, the credit goes to French sociologist and theologian Jacques Ellul.
  • Ellul believes that Christians should understand global issues while focusing their efforts on local actions.
  • This means not changing society on a global scale, but bringing hope to people through concrete actions and hands-on work [1][2].

Translating this theology slogan to the world of MSMEs and professionals in the Philippines gives them a wider and integrative understanding, a mindset, that acts on their awareness of global issues by deciding in a proactive way how to solve it locally when those big issues ripple to the Philippines' shores. So, how does this theology slogan of global awareness be a source of local and practical strategies?

  • First, automating news updates based on specific keywords or key phrases relevant to your work can help understand how big news affects your MSME business/profession.
  • Second, MSMEs and professionals need to increase their visibility online with a site or social media network, employing customized content that strategically follows the new AI search ranking systems .
  • Third, Geotargeting is one strategic move to connect and meet customers where they are, by employing structured data after launching a site to produce a "global footprint".
  • Fourth, consistently "Think global, act local" means to be aware daily of world economic issues and to act towards long-term sustainability in your work.

There are current statistics that support the need for MSMEs to grow their global footprint for growth and scale in the sale of products/services. The projected Philippine economic growth of 5.9% in by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is one. Also, according to the ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP), there are 79.3% of enterprises in the Philippines who intend to invest in AI & Machine Learning within the next 2-4 years. This is a testament to the fact that there is a growing ecosystem in the works to enhance the growth of MSMEs. To capitalize on this ecosystem and grow their global footprint, there are four assets to build: irreplaceable skills, financial resilience, sustainable growth, and global connections [3].

What irreplaceable skill can PH MSMEs capitalize on?
AI is a tool, but it does not yet have the capability for an irreplaceable human skill: resilience. A proactive mindset and a resilient spirit can prepare MSMEs in the Philippines for the many disruptions caused by big changes in the climate. Human resilience can work well in the Services sector - a sector which records a strong Gross Value Added (GVA) growth rate, averaging 6.7% in and meeting its targetted range.

Strategies for resilience also include diversifying into digital services that provide better data protection and innovative services for job applications. Applying AI productivity strategies and in-house training services that integrating AI tools for time management and efficiency are ideas that foster resilience through diversifying services.
How can MSMEs gain financial resilience and access credit?
An MSME needs to be growth-oriented to aim for a global footprint. One strategy is to build a blog, develop a website, and/or expand one's social media network. These are key to attracting investors who can see and estimate the MSME's value and growth potential. A global footprint can geotarget a wider local niche market where interested investors online can capitalize on the innovative and knowledge-based operations of an MSME. A global footprint can also expand an MSME's social media connections and a database of financial information to build its entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The entrepreneurial skills of an MSME and its desire to grow and scale are reinforced with the PH government's plans for digitalization in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. This Plan mandates digitalization to enhance the country's global competitiveness so that MSMEs are encouraged to adopt financial innovation strategies. Innovative financing models like digital invoice financing streamline operations and reduce transaction costs. These financing systems help avoid financial losses and secure profit.
How can an ecosystem make MSMEs' growth sustainable?
Building one's own ecosystem can link the MSME to the business and entrepreneurial environments to a bigger corporate network that facilitates their service operations. It also includes all other bigger innovations and knowledge ecosystems that can scale their niche expertise. One graphic image in nature that can represent an MSME's ecosystem-building activity is the beaver. Like the beaver, who builds a dam as its own ecosystem to survive & thrive, MSMEs can build their own "business ecosystem" with a solid supplier-chain network linked to local, reliable, and secure logistics systems. To increase sales of its services, all that is needed is to be aware of these "innovative" and "knowledge" ecosystems online and connect with them for the necessary income streams to sustain its business operations.

MSME branding, AI-optimized outreach in LinkedIn, amplifying reach through AI-powered SEO in geotargeted content, and Zero-click success are examples of ecosystem-building strategies to obtain vital leads [4].
Who is their strongest and most valuable ally?
The local government and the private sector are strong allies that help the PH MSME grow its global footprint. But the biggest ally in terms of strength and value comes from the expert studies and initiatives of the United Nations SDG 8 for Decent Work and Economic Growth. As MSMEs build their own ecosystems within their domain of expertise, their efforts attain certitude when they first align their strengths with the local government they are registered, and the private sector that provides both affordable and quality supplies.

But the strongest power to tap and be connected with is the UN's organizational support through its partnership with local government and the private sector. The policies and initiatives of this linked network can widen the pool of resources needed by MSMEs to grow and scale their services. A recent article in the Philippine News Agency website also supports this objective as it mentions The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) call for a strengthened whole-of-nation approach to accelerate the country's Sustainable Development Goals' (SDG) progress [5][6].
What are some specific steps to take at this time?
For professional branding and MSME startup ideas, you can easily go through the many articles in this Archive.

We offer a "free consultation" or a "strategy session" when you send us an email.

For those with a business idea, trust the Archive's expertise to guide your idea towards all the practical work needed to register and start your operations.

You can begin now by learning how to harness AI for your MSME idea. There are WFH workspace ideas, digital services info, AI productivity ideas, and content strategies available in this Blog. To update on the latest developments in the AI industry, you can follow our social network at LinkedIn.

Building your own MSME ecosystem is easier, enriching, and more sustainable when networking!

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