It’s just a matter of days before the much-anticipated biggest Forum lead by UREKA. The Largest e-commerce circuit is set to welcome 1,000 MSMEs to the digital space for its biggest Forum ever. The SM Megatrade Halls 1 to 3 is expected to be filled on February 25 for the said event. The UREKA Forum—the country’s biggest e-commerce mass conversion program for SMEs, powered by UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and its Consortium partners are all geared up by now. Brace yourselves as the some of the biggest notable persons in the industry will be speaking at the Forum.
To date, the UREKA Movement, through the Forum and DTI Roadshows, has already enabled close to seven hundred (700) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Baguio, Iloilo and Davao to put up their businesses online.
Now on its fourth leg in less than 18 months, a targeted 1,000 attendees, consisting mainly of MSMEs and UREKA E-Cadets, are expected to attend the UREKA Forum in Mega Manila where their ‘brick-and-mortar’ business model will be converted to a ‘brick and click’ model in 1 day! The Forum aims to help entrepreneurs revamp their business models by strategically harnessing technology and e-Commerce.
“We are very excited about the upcoming UREKA Forum here in Metro Manila, as it is the culmination of the first phase of the UREKA Forum, which started in October 2015, in key provincial trade-hubs of the country. Importantly, we look forward to also start connecting UREKA MSMEs with specially-trained UREKA E-Cadets, college students who will assist in getting UREKA MSME’s get their eCOMMERCE businesses up-and-running. Lastly, we are honored to also welcome new partners such as Microsoft and Facebook Asia Pacific who will further expand and sustain the UREKA eCommerce ecosystem,” said UnionBank Executive Vice President Genaro (Genju) V. Lapez.
The key enhancement for UREKA Mega Manila are the “pairing” of the UREKA E-Cadets with the UREKA eMSME’s so that – together – they can make their first eCommerce Sale within days of their conversion to a “brick & click” business. This will further accelerate the sustainable transformation of their businesses.
With this, the MSMEs can take their business online in just a few hours by providing all pertinent information about their business and products for the website. Entrepreneurs will also have a chance to learn from and interact with industry leaders from the consortium partners.
“UREKA Forum is very much in line with UnionBank’s digital transformation mandate as it enables MSMEs to do e-Commerce and, together with our Consortium Partner’s commitment to helping achieve sustainable ‘financial inclusion’. Consequently, UREKA is in close partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) efforts to spearhead the country’s Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap (PECR) 2016-2020,” said EVP Lapez.
The Keynote Speakers for the UREKA MEGA MANILA Forum include UnionBank President Edwin Bautista; PhilDev Director & Narra Venture CEO Dr. Paco Sandejas; UnionBank SEVP, Chief Technology, and Operations Officer Henry Aguda; PLDT SME Nation VP & Head Mitch Locsin; SHOPINAS President & CEO Sheila Lina; AMTI SVP & GM Bong Paloma; AIR21 Retail Sales & Business Development Division Head Yasmin Vasquez; DragonPay CTO & COO Robertson Chiang; Esquire International Financing Chairman & CEO Rajan Uttamchandani and GeiserMaclang President Brad Geiser.
Making their debuts will be Facebook’s Asia-Pacific Head of Public Policy Elizabeth Hernandez, Microsoft Philippines Solutions Group Head Rey Lugtu, and Taxumo CEO Eugene Arboleda.
The forum will be moderated by TeamAsia President Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, and hosted by Christine Jacob-Sandejas and RJ Ledesma.
UnionBank and its consortium partners namely PLDT SME Nation, Air21, SHOPINAS, DragonPay, AMTI, GeiserMaclang Marketing and Communications Inc, PanahonTV and Esquire Financing Inc., together with the D.T.I., D.O.S.T., and D.I.C.T., continue to collaborate with various leaders from the business and technology industries to spread knowledge and share unparalleled expertise as well as to promote a sustainable and innovative business model among Filipino entrepreneurs based on e-Commerce.
UREKA Forum is open to all DTI-registered MSMEs from different industries.
Visit urekaforum.ph/registration to register.
Karina is not your ordinary supermom. She juggles her time bonding with her three amazing kids while being in the loop on the latest happenings in the tech and lifestyle scene. Follow me on Instagram (@digitalfilipina) regularly visit www.digitalfilipina.com for daily dose of updates not just for moms but for everyone!
