MSMEs hope elected leaders push Antique products
SAN JOSE, Antique – Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the province of Antique are hopeful that Antique’s newly elected officials can help them push their local products in the market as part of their economic recovery.
Aben Ortega, president of the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Alumni Association, said the new set of local leaders in the province should assist the MSMEs affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The KMME Alumni Association is formed by MSMEs in Antique who completed the entrepreneurship mentoring session of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“I am looking forward that our local leaders would be able to create activities that could help us market our local products,” said Ortega.
He added that there are many local products such as food and non-food being produced by the MSMEs, but lacking in marketing opportunities within and outside of the province.
Among the famous local food products in the province are banana and camote chips, turmeric and ginger tea, tablea or native chocolate, and premium coffee.
For the non-food, the province is known for its patadyong or handwoven fabric, buri (fiber from the leaves of buri palm) bags and wallets, and the recent engineered bamboo furniture.
Major products shipped out of the province are palay, rice, copra, muscovado sugar, legumes, fruits and vegetables, livestock, fish and fish preparations, and seaweeds. Manufacture items like native gifts, toys, and housewares are sold in major cities of the country and abroad.
The main goods entering the province are construction materials, dry goods, groceries, canned and bottled products, fertilizers and others.
The capital town of San Jose de Beunavista is the center of business in the province while Culasi is the center of the north.