Enterprises from Misamis Oriental posted a total of P20 million in confirmed and potential sales during a three-day trade expo in Makati City, marking a major boost in market access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) outside Metro Manila.

The 2025 MSME Opportunity, Network, Exhibit (ONE) Expo, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), brought 26 exhibitors from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental into direct contact with buyers in the capital. The event generated P7.5 million in immediate and booked sales, while an additional P12.6 million in deals remains under negotiation.

Fifteen participating businesses sold out their inventory, and dozens forged new connections with institutional buyers, café owners, and resellers – an outcome DTI officials say will support sustained growth beyond the event.

Beyond direct transactions, the expo facilitated 24 new purchase orders and established partnerships with 21 institutional buyers, 10 café operators, and 8 resellers, creating new distribution pipelines for local producers.

DTI Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut said the expo is part of a broader strategy to promote regional economic integration and scale up provincial enterprises for national and international exposure.

"We’d like to expand our market from where we started… in NCR, across the country, and even internationally. This expansion opens new opportunities for market access, investment, and collaboration," she said.

The diverse product lineup ranged from processed food items like snacks and frozen goods to high-value commodities such as coconut-, cacao-, and coffee-based products. Also on display were fashion accessories, artisanal home items, and locally crafted stoneware pottery, underscoring the region’s rich creative and agricultural industries.