DTI Partners with Popular Social Media Platform to Boost MSMEs’ Ecommerce Skills

A program meant to train Filipino entrepreneurs is set to roll out in Metro Manila and select provinces as part of the partnership. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ByteDance Philippines, Inc., the operator of TikTok and TikTok Shop, establishing a partnership that seeks to continuously power micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. 

The partnership is led by DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque and TikTok Shop Director Paolo Lorenzo David. Through this collaboration, the DTI and ByteDance aim to expand the market reach of local businesses and accelerate their growth by leveraging digital platforms.

“The true strength of this partnership lies in its broad accessibility, making it easier for Filipino MSMEs to tap into new opportunities,” Roque said in a statement. “This includes micro-entrepreneurs and growing businesses that use smartphones and ring lights to showcase products and access a wider audience.”

“With the right support, platform, and resources, this joint effort will continue to fuel their progress,” Roque added. 

Unlad Lokal Program 

The signing of the MOU coincided with the launch of DTI and TikTok Shop’s Unlad Lokal Program, which seeks to provide targeted training in content creation, live selling, and e-commerce strategies. 

It aims to offer hands-on training and resources for MSMEs to enhance their ecommerce and digital marketing capabilities. The program will roll out in Metro Manila as well as in Pampanga, Cebu, and Davao. 

As part of the program, each city will be the host of a two-day immersive training session meant to train entrepreneurs in vital ecommerce and digital marketing skills, such as TikTok Shop 101, live selling, product listing optimization, and even regulatory compliance. 

“At TikTok Shop, we believe in the power of community-driven commerce,” said TikTok Shop Philippines Marketing Lead Franco Aligaen. “TikTok Shop has also evolved into a dynamic digital marketplace, one that allows MSMEs to reach customers in innovative ways. Unlad Lokal is designed to equip Filipino entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and digital skills needed to thrive in e-commerce.”

2024 Camp Asenso

The Unlad Lokal Program builds on the success of the 2024 Camp Asenso, another collaboration of DTI and TikTok Shop. A two-day learning session, Camp Asenso equipped MSMEs with the necessary knowledge and skills to leverage TikTok Shop in order to grow their businesses amidst a competitive but thriving digital marketplace. 

The learning session featured experts from TikTok Shop, who shared valuable insights to the hundreds of MSMes who participated both in person and online. Entrepreneurs were also given the opportunity to participate in a mock liveselling session in order to get hands-on experience on the right techniques needed to boost sales and engagement. 

“Unlad Lokal builds on the foundation of our DTI initiative which bridges traditional enterprises with digital innovation,” said Roque. “By providing MSMEs with hands-on training in ecommerce, content creation, and live selling, we are ensuring that our local businesses’ can adapt and lead the digital marketplace.”