Manila, Philippines — In celebration of International Women’s Month, SM Supermalls partnered with the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia as well as ACTED Philippines to promote the sustainable and inclusive agriculture and the thriving business of Bangsamoro women in Mindanao, Philippines.
Women entrepreneurs from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao showcased their products, freshest produce, regional specialties and indigenous fabrics at the Womenpreneur Market assembled by SM Supermalls and its partners at The Podium recently. 
French Ambassador Her Excellency Michele Boccoz shared why it was important for their agency to support such cause. 
French Ambassador Her Excellency Michele Boccoz
“Bangsamoro women entrepreneurs have skills and know-how’s. They have their best pratices from their culture and experiences in business too. The most important thing that we are doing for them today is the platform for networking, spreading their contacts with other entrepreneurs, giving them a broader picture in business by making them meet more people as possible, “Ambassador Boccoz told Stylish Magazine via Style Visionary Network in an exclusive interview during the event. 
“I think this event is opening doors that is allowing more networking with other women, other entrepreneurs, and here, SM Supermalls is offering us opportunities for our indigenous female entrepreneurs from Bangsamoro, so they can have better visibility of their business, for opportunities for opening new markets for them that they did not have access to before,” she added.

Steven Tan, president of SM Supermalls also shared his insights about the campaign.

“We at SM Supermalls are really staunch supporters of women empowerment. That is one of the things we value aside from sustainability and inclusivity. For this campaign, we are pushing women empowerment and equality so we really feel we have to support our sisters in the ARMM region, because the situation there is not as good as we have here in Manila,” Tan told Stylish Magazine.

SM Supermalls president Steven Tan at the Womenpreneur Market March 2023

“For big organizations like us, we have to influence others as well to assist and to help our indigenous people. Aside from the pop-up stores we are doing for them at our malls so they can showcase their products. I mean, look at the fabrics they are showcasing. Aside from giving them venues to showcase their products, I also want to give them platforms for them to give further experience in doing business here in Manila. Therefore, giving them encouragement and confidence to develop their products better, so that they can sell products even in a larger scale. In effect, that will help a lot of their other constituents. It has a domino effect.”

Tan also mentioned how the seven branches of SM Supermalls are further helping our fellow-citizens in the Mindanao area.

“SM Supermalls has 7 branches now. We are also helping the restaurateurs in the Mindanao area through our malls. Because we want to have a sustaining effect of really helping the business in Mindanao. Our end goal is we want them to be able to do business long term.”

The president also shared how SM Supermalls are addressing the usual barriers for Mindanaoan entrepreneurs. 

“The main struggle of indigenous entrepreneurs is the logistics, of course, because we are an archipelago with 7,000 plus islands. Luckily, SM Supermalls is also present in Mindanao. We can hook them up with our business people in that area,” he added. 

Also at the event were National Defense Secretary, Carlito Galvez, Jr., MTIT Representative, Director General of Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism – BARMM, Rosslaini Alonto-Sinarimbo, Representative of Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform – Maguindanao, Sharmaine Baraguir, Mandaluyong City Chief of Staff, Charice Abalos-Vargas, Chairperson of Airspeed, Rosemarie Rafael, and President and COO of Philippine Airlines, Capt. Stanley Ng.

“We are also encouraging new businesses to come up in Mindanao. We are doing some programs, and one of them is our Start-Up Program.”

“Sometimes, aspiring small entrepreneurs are so afraid to start their business because of lack of investment or capital. So what we do at SM Supermalls in Mindanao, we provide them carts and venues so all they have to do is showcase their products so they can do business as our way to encourage business among our people, especially since 70% of our tenants are SMEs. A lot of them have grown into large scale businesses so I am hoping we can do more of this, especially the Philippines has a consumer-based economy. The more we do this, the better for our country,” he concluded.