CL MSMEs earn more than P60-M in trade fairs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— In the first semester of 2018, trade fair participants from the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in the region have earned a total of P60.94 million in sales from different local, regional, national and international trade fairs they have participated in with the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

According to a report by DTI Region III (DTI-3), 138 local MSMEs from the seven provinces of Central Luzon participated in 93 trade fairs, four of which were international fairs while the rest were local fairs participated in and/ or co-organized by DTI. Some of the products showcased were furniture, home décor, milk products, pastry products, jewelries and accessories, wearable and food products and other quality products of Central Luzon. Of these 138 trade fair sellers, three were from Aurora, 27 from Bataan, 18 from Bulacan, 16 from Nueva Ecija, 21 from Pampanga, 26 from Tarlac and 27 sellers from Zambales.

Of the total sales earned, a big portion was earned by Pampanga furniture makers during the Philippine International Furniture Show on March 8-10, 2018

at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The local furniture makers earned a total of P28.72million in the three-day event. Central Luzon MSMEs also joined the Hong Kong International Toy Fair on January 8-11, 2018, where they earned a total of P2-million. Significant sales in the amount of P2.43-million was also registered in the Siempre Aurora Trade Fair in Baler, Aurora on February 1219, 2018, as well as in the

National Food Fair on March 14-18, 2018 at the SM Megatrade Hall where MSMEs earned a total of P3-million. Central Luzon MSMEs also participated in the Kannawidan Festival Trade Fair inVigan,Ilocos Sur, where they earned a total of P2.69-million and in the Sessions in Bloom Trade Fair in Baguio City on February 26 to March 4, 2018, where they earned a total of P4.07-million.

In total, participating MSMEs from Aurora earned P4.12-million in these trade fairs, while Bataan sellers earned P3.93-million. Bulacan trade fair sellers earned P7.06-million while Nueva Ecija sellers gained P6.54- million. Pampanga MSMEs registered the highest trade fair sales in the first six months of 2018 with total sales of P35.91-million while Tarlac sellers earned P1.82-million and Zambales trade fair participants sold P1.56-million worth of products.

Interested MSMEs who would want to participate in trade fairs organized or participated in by DTI-3 are requested to coordinate with any of the Negosyo Centers in their respective locality or contact the nearest DTI provincial office.

— Warren Serrano/ DTI-3