NEWLY appointed Acting Trade Secretary Cristina Roque on Thursday outlined plans to emphasize the major role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in pumping the country's economy.

Roque said that since MSMEs comprise 99.5 percent of the country's businesses and employ 60 percent of the workforce, the sector plays a crucial role in the Philippines' transition to higher middle-income status in 2025.

"That's why there's a drive to uplift and to level up these MSMEs as best as we can," Roque said in an interview in Malacañang.

She underlined the positive effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the growth of MSMEs, noting that while it was a challenging time, there were many opportunities that opened during that period.

To further elevate the potential of MSMEs, Roque said that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was pushing for digitalization, diversification, improved access to funding, and mentoring.

Drawing foreign investment is also among Roque's primary goals. "We will be pushing aggressively and intensively to attract international investors," she stressed.

She said the DTI would collaborate closely with other government agencies, such as the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, to enhance the country's international trade relations.

Consumer protection is vital to the DTI as Roque underscored the need for rigorous standards to ensure product safety and quality to maintain public trust and economic stability.

Roque, who replaced Alfredo Pascual who resigned as trade secretary on August 2, previously served as Trade undersecretary for the MSME Development Group.

She was formerly CEO and president of the Kamiseta group of companies, which launched her clothing brand Kamiseta.

As DTI undersecretary, she managed the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Bureau of Marketing Development and Promotions, OTOP Program Management Office, and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Management Office.

She also oversaw the operations of Small Business Corp., Cooperative Development Authority and the Philippine Trade Training Center.