SMEs gear up for Cebu OTOP Fair

CEBU CITY — Owners and representatives of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) gathered here yesterday to prepare for the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Fair, one of the highlights of the Cebu Business Month celebration in June.

Some 100 SME delegates gathered for the “OTOP Next Generation Phase 1” at the City Sports ClubCebu for a series of discussions.

The main focus of the event was to give entrepreneurs tips on how to improve their products for them to be ready for the challenges of the global market.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Provincial Director Maria Elena Arbon said OTOP, which is a program under the DTI, showcases the products of local SMEs.

Arbon said they are expecting to earn P12 million in this year’s series of trading events.

She cited that during the Sinulog Fair last January, P5 million worth of OTOP products were sold.

OTOP Consultant Leon Flores III said the challenge for SMEs is how to level up their products to meet the demand and cope with the more modern taste of consumers.

Flores encouraged SMEs to further hone their skills.

The 100 SMEs that joined the event were chosen after the screening of enrollees under the said program. (With a report from Khristal Karen Asoque/CNU)