dti converge launch
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DTI, Converge launch AI, digital transformation programs for MSMEs

ByJustpaste.in

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. launched programs aimed at helping micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt artificial intelligence and other digital technologies as part of efforts to make Philippine businesses more competitive.

The initiatives were unveiled on Tuesday, August 11 alongside the opening of the DTI Bagong Pilipinas AI and Scale-Up Center, a facility designed to give MSMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs access to AI training, technology tools, workspace, and business networks.

DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista said the center is intended for MSMEs that want to adopt AI but do not know where to start, as well as startups looking to expand and organizations seeking to turn ideas into practical business solutions.

“AI is no longer simply a technology of the future,” Bautista said in her welcome message. “It is already changing how businesses operate, compete, and grow.”

The approximately 380-square-meter center features coworking stations, meeting pods, training rooms, startup spaces, technology showcases, and high-speed connectivity. Its services are free, with MSMEs, startups, and aspiring entrepreneurs allowed to walk in or reserve slots via email (startup@dti.gov.ph) for scheduled activities.

The center will focus on three areas: helping businesses learn and adopt AI tools, allowing them to test and develop solutions, and connecting them with mentors, technology providers, industry leaders, government partners, and other innovators.

AI readiness, connectivity and skills

Converge founder and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy said the strategy for transforming MSMEs rests on three pillars: infrastructure for AI readiness, connectivity, and upskilling.

In her speech for the center’s launch, Uy said AI requires the necessary infrastructure, including access to data ecosystems and specialized software that may previously have been out of reach for smaller businesses.

The DTI is also partnering with Converge SME Solutions to provide high-speed, reliable, enterprise-grade fiber connectivity for the initiative.

Uy also emphasized the importance of training workers to use emerging technologies.

The AI and Scale-Up Center will provide entrepreneurs, managers, and workers with practical AI literacy and data-management skills, with the goal of ensuring that AI augments rather than replaces human capabilities.

Digital transformation campaign

The center forms part of a broader digital transformation partnership between Converge and the DTI, implementing an agreement they originally signed in November 2025.

Converge SME Solutions senior vice president Dindo Marzan said the programs were designed around the realities of small businesses, which often operate with lean teams and limited information technology resources. The offerings include business broadband and e-commerce connectivity solutions, as well as cloud-based tools, cybersecurity support, and productivity platforms.

The partnership will also conduct experiential activities, learning sessions, and workshops aimed at entrepreneurs in provincial areas and traditional industries. These activities include efforts to help MSMEs use AI to improve operations and develop new revenue opportunities.

Converge vice president Angela Gutierrez said the objective is to make digital transformation more accessible to smaller businesses.

“Our goal is simple: to ensure that even the smallest negosyo in the Philippines has the digital capability to compete not only locally, but globally,” she said. – Rappler.com

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