Becoming a businessman is a culture that Filipinos were not born with. In most situations, especially for those who were raised in the provinces, the primary means of income that most parents would want their children to have is from bachelor degrees that are attained from universities most commonly in the field of education, seafaring, accountancy, engineering, IT and medical care. Incidentally, these were also the fields where most Filipinos are very much in demand abroad and consists the majority of Filipino Migrant Workers. Once a daughter or a son gets a job overseas, the family already considered that the financial situation has already been taken care of.
Overseas Jobs are not forever
Working abroad is a sure way of having a stable income for Filipino families but it can also be a problem on a long-term basis. Once a Filipino Migrant Worker looses his job or something untoward happens, the means of financial sustainability of the whole family collapses, leading from one problem to another.
Alma Argayoso, Commercial Attaché of the Philippine Embassy and head of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center based in the World Trade Center Rotterdam confirmed this during the Mag-Negosyo Tayo event in Schiedam.
“We have heard a lot of stories where the income of Filipinos who are earning a lot abroad usually goes to waste,” says Argayoso on an interview with this writer.
According to her, while it is obligatory for a Filipino to send financial help to their families in the Philippines, OFW’s are also risking a higher chance that their family becomes entirely dependent on them.
Whereas, Argayoso advises, when OFWs start their own business, there are more opportunities for growing their money and having a long-term means of income.
Investing your money
To encourage OFW’s to invest their money and start their own business, the office of PTIC and the Philippine Embassy organized the Mag-Negosyo Tayo Seminar, a one-day event that was attended by Filipinos and Dutch who are interested in starting their own business. The event was held in Sporthal West in Spaanseweg in Rotterdam.
The speakers were Dr. Corazon Dee, Chairperson of the ERCMOVE, an organization which aims to develop sustainable development in the Philippines with the help of migrant workers, Dr. Peter Payoyo of PLAIN Solutions, a company which offers legal advises and services to migrant workers. The said speakers discussed respectively about the issues and challenges on doing business or investing in the Netherlands linked with the Philippines and the Legal requirements for setting up a business in the Philippines.
Dr Peter Payoyo Discussing the Legal Requirements for Setting up a Business in the Philippines
Argayoso herself talked about the basics of doing business in the Philippines, business ideas, guidelines and procedures for setting up a business.
“There are many benefits of investing in a business. For one, the income of Filipino migrants working abroad has a definite place to go. You also have an opportunity to have higher income and you have the freedom to be your own boss and work on your own time,” continued Argayoso.
She also said that since businessmen are movers of the economy, OFW’s who start their own business could also help the country by providing jobs to their countrymen.
Know Your Passion
One of the first advises of Argayoso is starting a business which you have a passion for because it is very important for a businessman not to get tired of the things that s/he is doing.
It is also necessary to have a clear and definite goal of the direction of your business, the amount of money that you can invest on it and the effort and time that you can give to your business. A good written business plan will help a great deal in setting up the prospective of your desired business.
The speakers also recommend seeking the help or advise of an agency that has an expertise in the industry of your choice or visiting government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Hottest Trends in Business
Argayoso added that your business doesn’t necessarily have to be something new. It can be an old trend that you can start in a different location like in the case of franchising. With franchising, you already have a model and a proven business formula that you can follow so there is lesser business planning to do.
Apart from franchising, dealing with the basics and essentials will prove to be profitable like food, health oriented businesses like herbal products, health and wellness institutions and health care services for aging population.
Service agencies are also among the viable business ventures especially for those who are thinking of starting their business outside the Philippines.
“For those interested in starting their business, you can visit our trade office in Rotterdam and we will connect you with the appropriate agencies that can further help you in starting your business,” ends Argayoso.
PTIC Netherlands is located at Beurs-WTC, Beursplein 31, room 337A, Rotterdam. You can also call them at +31 10 2051950 or email at trade@pticnetherlands.nl.
Munting Nayon Netherlands
July 31, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment