We make sure we closely monitor the MSMEs’ progress so we can allure buyers from the capital. Hopefully we can reach or even exceed the target.

Trade officials organize agri-trade and tourism fairs across the country to help expose micro small and medium entrepreneurs to opportunities they would not otherwise encounter on their own.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is targeting P80 million worth of sales in this year’s Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (MIMAROPA) Naturally Agri-Trade and Tourism Fair, P10 million higher from the P70 million sales generated from the trade event last year.

The trade agency said it is banking on the competitive and high quality product line-up of 280 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) from the MIMAROPA region to hit the target.

“MIMAROPA MSMEs’ enthusiasm in this agri-trade and tourism fair is very high since we started this trade fair in 2015, we set the bar higher by providing them business technical assistance,” DTI MIMAROPA regional director Joel Valera said.

“We make sure we closely monitor the MSMEs’ progress so we can allure buyers from the capital. Hopefully we can reach or even exceed the target.”

From just P4.7 million when it started in 2015, the trade fair has grown in sales to P70 million last year, higher from the DTI’s P50 million sales target. Among the products which will be featured in the fair include processed food, furniture and home furnishings, gifts and holiday decors as well as wearables including accessories, bags and footwear.

Aside from presenting local products and tourism destinations, the DTI said the fair will also highlight the one town, one product (OTOP) Next Gen setting with over 150 product designs. The OTOP program is one of the agency’s programs for MSME implemented nationwide.

Under the OTOP Next Gen Program, the agency signed up MSMEs for the improvement and innovation of their products in terms of quality, product development, design, packaging, standards, compliance, marketability, production capability and brand development.

The five-day fair will run from 16 to 20 October at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The DTI said it also plans to invite over 500 institutional buyers from Metro Manila for a closed-door buyers’ hour wherein the MSMEs can link with the buyers and expand their product reach.

The DTI partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Tourism and the provincial and city governments of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan for the fair.