| Business Growth |
     Principal activities include: Business Support Organization (BSO) Development. GEM will identify, and increase the effectiveness of selected BSOs with a focus on: assisting chambers of commerce that have not yet received USAID support; assisting BSOs working in the tourism, aquaculture, and BPO sectors; assisting previously-assisted chambers of commerce in their advocacy for improved LGU performance in revenue generation, corruption control and improved quality of education; and assisting BSOs to plan and implement strategic events in their areas. Targeted Commodity Expansion Project (TCEP). TCEP will help to triple international exports and domestic out-shipments (volume and value) of targeted commodities like fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, tuna, carrageenan and high-value marine products such as abalone, grouper and sea cucumber. TCEP will also help to expand warehousing, cold storage and VHT facilities to support the increased export and out-shipment of targeted commodities, and will assist previously -supported producer-associations to improve their competitiveness through training and information on improved production, packaging and marketing. TCEP activities will provide selected communities of former MNLF combatants with pre- and post-harvest facilities needed to achieve more profitable farming/fishing, and will implement community development activities for selected barangays in the Sulu Archipelago. Exploratory Investments in Key Industries. Under this activity, GEM will help to “jump-start” investment in two key industries: tourism, and business process outsourcing (BPO), and will help to improve the community outreach activities of selected responsible mining firms. |
