Nearly 40 aspiring young entrepreneurs successfully finished a 3-day training on leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the Pasig Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (Pasig YES 2023) held on 20-22 October 2023.

This entrepreneurship boot camp was organized by the Local Economic Development and Investment Office (LEDIO) of the City of Pasig and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines through Youth Co:Lab, co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry National Capital Region Office (DTI NCRO).

Among the youth participants, around 50% already have paying customers, while the rest had the motivation to start micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Pasig. Youth Co:Lab led the introductory Movers Workshops on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Entrepreneurship for the youth aged 18 to 30.

Edwine Carrié, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP in the Philippines, said, “Of more than 1 million businesses in the country, 99.58% are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs also hold 63% of the country's workforce. MSMEs are key drivers of local economic development”. Recognizing the vital role of young Filipinos in economic development, these young entrepreneurs can contribute to the success of the government’s socio-economic development agenda and help the local economy of Pasig to flourish.

The participants received expert training on best practices from industry experts and entrepreneurs from Pasig YES 2023, the final leg of Youth Co:Lab’s Ideation Lab 2023. Ideation Labs are a platform for young Filipinos to learn about the SDGs, identify challenges they experience in their communities, and ideate solutions to address them, as well as an opportunity for youth to learn from their peers.

This diverse group of youth composed of LGBTQIA+, out-of-school youth, college students, young professionals, and graduate students were equipped with technical skills and knowledge on business management by Master Trainers from DTI NCRO.

Atty. Diego Santiago, Officer-In-Charge at LEDIO expressed, “This boot camp was curated to provide these young participants with the tools to initiate their entrepreneurial path and drive it forward. This has been a great start for them to embark on their entrepreneurial journey.”

Youth Co:Lab has supported more than 1,700 young leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs nationwide. The bootcamp, along with various other youth entrepreneurial empowerment activities, showcases the importance of providing comprehensive support to aspiring entrepreneurs to enhance Pasig City's business environment. Stakeholders and supporters, including the government, can leverage data and evidence to guide initiatives such as this bootcamp, ensuring the integration of the principle of Leaving No One Behind. 
 

Contact Information:
Youth Co:Lab Philippines
fortheyouth.ph@undp.org
 

About Youth Co:Lab  

Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth, so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.youthcolab.org or follow @youthcolab

About Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy'' approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.

About City of Pasig Local Economic Development and Investment Office

The Local Economic Development and Investment Office or LEDIO, formerly known as the Pasig City Investment Promotion Center, helps small and micro-business owners gain footing and get started within the city. They help register official DTI business names to ensure that no one else can claim their business’ name, and help owners register micro businesses to help them get their investment set in and earning. Thus, small and micro businesses can grow and thrive.