Brussels: The Business consultancy assistance will now be available to the Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the services of the Programma Uitzending Managers (PUM), an organization supporting over 45,000 entrepreneurs worldwide, including the Philippines, with aid from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This was conveyed during the call of Ms Dorien van Doorn, Asian Regional Director of PUM, on Ambassador Malaya on 2 February to brief the Embassy on the operations of PUM and its volunteer business consultancy. Programma Uitzending Managers Ms Maria de Guia, Philippine Country Coordinator, was also present at the meeting.
“The Philippine Embassy thanks and commends PUM for its support to PH’s SME sector, which has helped to unlock their growth potential, generate jobs and raise incomes. PUM’s business consultancy, coaching and webinars are much appreciated by SME operators, particularly in the countryside,” the Ambassador said.
Ambassador Malaya was joined by First Secretary Irish Kay Kalaw-Ado, Commercial Counsellor Magnolia Misolas-Ashley, and Trade and Investment Specialist Christine Barawid during the meeting.
Currently, the PUM has six active programs and 19 projects in the Philippines, notably the Jollibee Foundation Group Farmers Programme and the Hog Manure Program, among others. It also has a network of four PUM local coordinators, namely in Manila and the cities of Cebu, Davao and Bacolod.
Established in 1978, PUM provides onsite business consultancy, remote coaching, trade promotion as well as webinars for SMEs in the areas of the agricultural value chain, tourism and hospitality, business support organizations, construction and environment and health, among others.
