TikTok Shop joins forces with DTI to empower MSMEs through eCommerce training

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TikTok Shop has teamed up with the Philippines' department of trade and industry (DTI) to equip micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country with the tools and training needed to thrive in the digital marketplace.

The partnership was formalised recently through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DTI secretary Cristina Roque (pictured, left) and Franco Aligaen (pictured, right), marketing lead of TikTok Shop Philippines.

The signing took place at DTI's One Town One Product Retail and Learning Centre in Makati City and marked the official launch of the Unlad Lokal Programme.

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Designed to help MSMEs develop a stronger foothold in eCommerce, Unlad Lokal will offer training sessions on content creation, live selling, and digital strategies tailored for the evolving online economy.

Roque said the initiative reflects the government's commitment to ensuring small businesses across the country aren't left behind in the digital shift. "We are not just getting entrepreneurs online, we are equipping them to thrive online," she said, as quoted by government-owned Philippines News Agency.

Training sessions under the programme will begin in key locations including Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and Davao. TikTok Shop will lead immersive workshops covering eCommerce fundamentals, product listing optimisation, live selling techniques, compliance matters, and other category-specific tips.

"At TikTok Shop, we believe in the power of community-driven commerce. 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 eCommerce," said Aligaen in a release.

"Beyond the training sessions, we are offering post-programme mentorship, continued support in content creation, and access to advertising opportunities that will help local businesses continue to scale and succeed long after the workshops," he added.

This move builds on the DTI's wider push to digitise the country's entrepreneurial landscape. Recently, the agency launched the Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace—a platform designed to serve as a digital gateway for Filipino MSMEs to engage in wholesale trade and connect with both local and global markets. The platform is part of a wider digitalisation agenda to expand the reach and visibility of homegrown enterprises.

In 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated that there were over 1.2 million business enterprises in the Philippines, with 99.63% of these being MSMEs.

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