Koronadal City, South Cotabato – The Department of Trade and Industry 12 (DTI-12) has officially launched this Monday the week-long regional trade expo that showcases the wide array of products made by the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Region 12.
The fair, dubbed as Yaman Dose Trade Expo is participated by 24 MSMEs from various parts of the region, namely: the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and the city of General Santos. It is staged at the Atrium of SM City in General Santos City and will run from 15 – 21 November 2021.
Jude Constantine S. Jaugan, Regional Director of DTI-12, said that the Yaman Dose is a veritable showcase of the best of Region 12 from export-ready food products to high-quality arts, crafts, and furniture primarily to help the MSMEs recover from the pandemic.
“To help achieve economic growth, DTI promotes enterprise creation and development through our programs and projects that will strengthen our MSMEs as well as encourage the creation of new ones. And one such initiative is the conduct of trade fairs that help widen the market base of our local products and make these more competitive,” said Jaugan.
He said, that aside from assisting the exhibitors, composed of 16 food processors and eight homestyle and wearable manufacturers, to widen their market, the goal is to generate total sales of P10-M at the end of the event.
DTI is also using social media by tapping prominent local online sellers in the conduct of the nightly online selling streamed at the social media page of the agency.
Side by side with the trade fair are blended trainings under the Negosyo sa Dose – a package of business services to equip existing and would-be entrepreneurs with the right information and practical skills to succeed in their business.
Among the slated training are good warehousing practices and inventory management, branding, how to invest in the right franchise, and basic food safety and traceability.
Blesila A. Lantayona, undersecretary of the DTI Regional Operations Group, during the opening event, pointed out that the economy is inching its way to normalcy as more businesses are opening up in the face of the pandemic. This, after a hiatus of two years due to a series of earthquakes in 2019 and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, showing the region’s resiliency.
“Region 12 has shown resiliency amidst the pandemic crisis; it is evident that the local leadership did not sway from pushing on with the task of helping the local economy rise again,” said Lantayona. Among the featured local products are fashion bags and accessories made of T’nalak and other indigenous materials, coffee, banana chips, processed fruits, processed aquamarine, face masks and mask holders, embroidered shirts, dairy-based food items, and souvenirs and novelty items. ♦
Date of Release: 19 November 2021