Trade expo opens Oct. 6; showcases MSME products

Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional director (Photo: Sitti Amina Jain/Facebook)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) coming from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and the neighboring country of Indonesia will have the chance to showcase their products at the annual trade exhibit here.

Dubbed as Zamboanga Peninsula Exposition (ZAMPEX), the exhibit will open on Friday, October 6.

Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional director, on Thursday said there is an increase in the number of exhibitors that will join this year’s trade show.

“We are expecting over 100 exhibitors this year showcasing the best products from our micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs). We will also be setting up pavilions for our weavers from the indigenous people (IP) communities, the One Town One Product Next Generation, and Fabrication Laboratory and Food Innovation Center showcasing some prototypes,” Jain said.

The ZAMPEX, which will run from October 6 to 10, is touted as the biggest and grandest marketing platform for MSMEs instituted by the DTI.

It is one of the component activities of the Jobs and Livelihood fair dubbed as Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK).

The TNK is a joint activity of DTI and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), designed to realize Executive Order No. 25, the country’s long-term vision simply called Ambisyon 2040.

Now on its fourth year, ZAMPEX 2017 will feature the best products by at least 100 exhibitors from all over Region 9, and some from the neighboring ARMM provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, with the special participation of Indonesia, Jain said.

This year, the focus products of ZAMPEX include processed fish, processed fruits and nuts, processed foods, wearable and homestyle, abaca, coconut, coffee, mango, cacao, and furniture.

ZAMPEX aims to facilitate the promotion of locally-made products of MSMEs in the region consequently increasing sales of the MSMEs; create or reinforce visibility and raise the awareness and interest about the supply capacity; establish linkages between producers and buyers and establish partnerships among distributors and suppliers through business matching; and make quality products of the MSMEs in the region available via the Go Lokal Stores.

Jain said the conduct of ZAMPEX every October is DTI’s contribution to the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.

“We are inviting the public to visit ZAMPEX 2017. This is our contribution to the month-long celebration of Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. We will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. so we can give more time for the public to enjoy the region’s best products,” she said.