Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Acting Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque will embark on her first official trip abroad, a month after the turnover of the agency’s flag to her, to promote Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)

Roque told reporters Tuesday that she will go to Japan on Sept. 11 to inaugurate the pilot DTI Bagong Pilipinas retail store, which aims to showcase Philippine-made products.

As she also holds the position of Undersecretary for MSME Development, one of the priority projects of the acting trade chief is the establishment of DTI Bagong Pilipinas stores in Philippine embassies across the world.

“Remember that I said we will be opening stores in all the Philippine embassies all over the world. So tomorrow, we will fly to Tokyo for the first store. It will be in Tokyo and Osaka. So MSME products will be put now in stores of Tokyo and Osaka,” Roque said.

The DTI chief will also meet with Japanese companies to explore possibilities of conducting an international trade to promote products of Filipino and Japanese SMEs as well as strengthening their collaboration.

She said this international trade from Filipino and Japanese SMEs is first of its kind for the country.

Aside from promoting MSMEs, Roque is set to have a follow-through of investment pledges of Japanese firms that plan to expand their operations in the Philippines.

“There some dealings in the work for us to explore. That will also be part of our agenda,” Roque said. (PNA)