Micro small exporters urged to participate in trade expos

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) has intensified its efforts to reach out to the micro, small and medium exporters in Cebu to participate in promotions here and abroad.

CITEM is the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

In an interview yesterday, CITEM information officer Luzviminda B. Soriano said with the challenging export performance, there is a need for smaller companies to drum up market visibility through participating in exhibits while the local market is active and direct foreign buyers are coming also to the Philippines to buy.

Unlike in the past that export sales were boosted largely by the bulk buyers or the traders from different major markets abroad, today, end-users or direct buyers are personally buying and one of the venues they visit are the scheduled trade exhibitions.

Soriano noted that participation of exporters for exhibitions has significantly declined in the recent years, probably due to weak export market, and some have already developed their own client and would not need to spend on promotions.

One of CITEM's signature exhibits is the Manila-FAME. This year, the event is slated on April 19- 21 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

As a governmentrun agency, Soriano said exhibition charges are cheaper than the privately organized exhibits and trade shows.

Now on its 67th edition, the show will stand as a collective of creative enterprises, featuring versatile artisinal products attuned for the modern setting from the country's top home, fashion, holiday and gifts designers and manufacturers.

"CITEM seeks to further elevate the marketability of local crafts to cement the Philippines as a premier sourcing destination for lifestyle and design products," said Ma. Lourdes D. Mediran, the agency's deputy executive director.

Early this year, members of the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc., (CFIF), Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME Cebu), Gifts, Toys and Housewares Exporters Foundation Inc. (CebuGTH), in collaboration with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held a 12-day exhibit dubbed "The Chambers: the Cebu Project,” an exhibit that showcases Cebu’s best export quality products, at the SM City Cebu.

"We are making noises now. We want to communicate to the world that we are still here,” said DTI-7 Director Asteria Caberte.

Caberte also believes that being visible and active in participating local and foreign shows as the market is showing positive trends.

“We are starting to bounce back. We can feel it now. We’ve mounted this exhibit to maintain market presence," said Caberte.

As the prime mover in export marketing, CITEM provides export-driven programs, spearheads official participation in overseas trade fairs, organizes signature events in the Philippines and high-profile promotional activities in key markets abroad.