GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing for the development of more top-quality and “world-class” products from parts of Region 12 or Soccsksargen.
Dorecita T. Delima, DTI 12 regional director, said in a statement on Wednesday that they are currently assisting local entrepreneurs in improving existing products and establish fresh goods that could potentially enter the lucrative export markets.
She said the initiative is mainly focused on food and nonfood products sourced and produced within the region’s four provinces (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani) and five cities—General Santos City, Kidapawan City, Cotabato City, Koronadal City and Tacurong City.
“We actually have a lot of promising products coming from various areas in Region 12 and we just need to improve and help them reach the mainstream markets,” she said.
Delima specifically cited processed tropical fruits, processed foods and furniture, as well as various arts and crafts.
Some of these products are being showcased by the agency in a five-day regional trade fair and exposition that formally opened on Wednesday at the SM Mall here.
Dubbed “Treasures of Region 12 Jobs and Business Fair,” the event is an annual marketing and promotional activity spearheaded by the DTI 12 to promote various local products and services.
The event, which features more than 200 products and around 100 exhibitors and entrepreneurs, is backed by local government units and the Departments of Agriculture, the Interior and Local Government, Science and Technology, and Labor and Employment, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Delima said the exhibitors are local entrepreneurs that they assisted in terms of product development and improvement.
“All 45 municipalities and five cities of Region 12 were represented in our trade expo,” she said.
She said they “leveled up” the activities this year to deliver a “complete package” to consumers, as well as prospective and existing entrepreneurs.
Aside from the trade fair, she said they have lined up a series of free trainings and seminars, business coaching and matching, service showcases and job fair during the five-day event.
Delima said these are part of the agency’s Nego Solusyon package, which offers various services and technical assistance to local entrepreneurs and other interested residents. The scheduled seminars are the overseas Filipino workers business forum; product licensing, accreditation and other trade laws, business opportunity seminar for momshies and beshies; and halal services, shelf life determination, packaging and labeling.
During the event, she said they will launch the “OuR12 Treats” and “Tsokokapetearya,” a package of top-quality snack goods featuring local coffee, tea and cocoa blends matched with bread and pastry pasalubong.
The other side events are the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay Stakeholders Summit and the fifth Regional Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Congress slated on Wednesday and Thursday.
For the job fair on Thursday, a total of 60 local companies and 10 overseas recruitment agencies have confirmed to join the event and open around 1,500 job opportunities.