OTOP, SME Fair to showcase products of 35 Iloilo exhibitors
The Department of Trade and Industry will showcase the best products of the small and medium enterprises and One Town, One Product program of the different municipalities of Iloilo from July 12 to18, 2010.
Thirty-five exhibitors will participate in the Iloilo OTOP SME Fair 2010 at the Activity Center of SM City Iloilo in Mandurriao district, the Philippine Information Agency said.
Mary Jane Tuares, DTI-Iloilo trade and industry development specialist and OTOP coordinator, said the annual event provides opportunity to the Ilonggo community to learn more about the distinct products and services identified under the OTOP program of each town in the province.
For the countryside entrepreneurs, the event is an avenue to promote their products to potential buyers in the market.
Of the 35 exhibitors, 18 will display their various food products in the fair. For delicacies, the exhibitors are Sweet’nes Fine Homemade Delicacies, PJ Delicacies, Panaderia de Molo, Kalibo Food Haus and Panaderia de Iloilo.
Other food exhibitors are Badiangan Ginger Planters and Producers Coop, ginger products; Ninfel Pasalubong Center, dried fish; Igbaras Mango Growers and Producers Coop, mango products; Guintapagin ARB MPC, processed banana; Anilao LGU, shrimp paste; and Diday’s Delicacies, kakanin.
Among the featured products for gifts and housewares are the handloom woven cloth, barong, and gowns of Oton Woven Products; coco coir of Tubungan Small Coconut Growers MPC; abaca products of Tuburan Abaca Handicraft of Janiuay; bamboo crafts of the local government units of Maasin and Tigbauan; handwoven products of Duenas and Oton LGUs; fashion accessories of Panubli Arts and Crafts; lightings of Boyel Marketing and Gifts; and housewares of Creatif Arts and Crafts.
Organic and natural products of ESCOM Herbal Products of Janiuay, Rosary Herbal Products of Passi City, Earth & Me and Mega-MC Corp. of Iloilo City will be also showcased.
Another highlight of this year’s fair is the display of selected OTOP products of other provinces in Western Visayas. These are the muscovado sugar and candies of Antique, piña cloth of Aklan and cashew nuts, mango products and coco craft of Guimaras.
Tuares said the participation of the guest-exhibitors is a manifestation of their desire to link up with Iloilo as they see the province as a major market in the region.
Organizers are targeting to generate P850,000 in sales this year. In 2009, the event generated P800,000 in cash sales.
The event is organized in cooperation with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Foundation Inc. and the Business Counselors League as part of the celebration of the SME Week.
