SMEs urged to observe good practices to reach int'l market
From left, APFTI Exec. Dir Rommel Agustin, IPA Dir. Agnes
Tirol, DTI Provincial Dir. Diosdado Cadena, IBC Exec. Dir.
Lea Lara, and Mr Florendo Besana in a press conference
before the start of the One Town One Product Fair 2007.
A. Chris Fernandez photo
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena Jr. suggested that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the province should observe current good manufacturing practices and hazard analysis critical control points for their products to reach the international market.
The current good manufacturing practices includes the improvement of working areas lay-out, handling of equipment and other related facilities and proper of handling of the products itself especially the processed foods. While, the hazard analysis critical control points deal on the different levels or procedures that producers have implemented and are prone to defects. Its primary concern is on the sanitation and shelf-life of the products.
Currently, the department and other related groups involved in the One Town One Product (OTOP) program is focusing their efforts on the bamboo industry and processed mango products.
Mango processing which has as its products dehydrated mango, mango juice and jams, is made by the Trappist Monastery in the island-province of Guimaras.
Cadena lamented that even in the new Iloilo Airport of International Standards processed mango products displayed and sold inside the airport came from Cebu.
For the bamboo industry, Cadena said the bamboos coming from the town of Maasin are much better in quality compared with those coming from other areas in the country. However, there are no investors who could offer technical help in producing quality bamboo products.
Cadena, however, noted that producers should also strengthen and make themselves felt in the local market. He said producers should ensure quality on their products even in the domestic.
Cadena said there are certain segments in the domestic market that are particular of the products they are buying. They (producers) should not take for granted the purchasing capacity of the local consumers, he said.
In yesterday's press conference before the opening of the OTOP Fair 2007, Cadena stressed that local producers should adapt with the new technologies in order to succeed in their chosen business.
The trade fair will give the SMEs the opportunity for more exposures and same time enable their products to be showcased in different levels.