SMEs to Celebrate the Filipino Lifestyle

Over 200 SMEs from the Philippines’ 17 regions will participate in this year’s National Trade Fair, the most important domestic trade show that perfectly celebrates the Filipino Lifestyle.

The fair will occupy the three halls of SM Megamall on March 14-18, and expected to draw in thousands of local and foreign buyers.

“This year’s National Trade Fair will show the country’s color, warmth, and fascinating blend of influences through arts and crafts made by our Filipino artisans across the archipelago,” said Assistant Secretary and Executive Director Fe Agoncillo-Reyes of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

NTF is headed by the CITEM, in cooperation with other offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), such as the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (BSMED), Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP), Bureau of Domestic Trade (BDT), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), and the DTI Regional Operations Group.

“This fair became one of the avenues for our small enterprises at the countryside to be noticed by exporters, distributors, both local and foreign. Some of them even grew into big enterprises and became exporters,” added Agoncillo-Reyes.

A special setting of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program can also be seen during the fair. OTOP is a program of the Arroyo Administration enriching each town’s unique products and capabilities, making it the top source of livelihood and pride of the community. It is now continuously gaining investments and spreading widely in the countryside.

NTF bridges the exhibitors to other opportunities through pre-arranged business matching with local and foreign buyers, exporters, and distributors.

The Bureau of Domestic Trade (BDT), on the other hand, will spearhead the raw material setting for seashells, woody vines, and climbing bamboo, including its new process and applications. The Bureau also offers database of reliable suppliers of different raw materials.

The ASEAN Japan Center (AJC) will conduct a packaging seminar for the exhibitors during the fair with the aim to introduce other packaging ideas and technologies that will further make Philippine products more globally appealing and competitive.

In cooperation with the Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC) and Philippine Chamber of Handicraft Industries (PCHI), livelihood seminars will be conducted during the fair.

Last year, the National Trade Fair generated sales amounting to P82.44 million, and attracted 20,000 visitors.
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For more information, please call:

Special Projects Division, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)
Tel: (632) 8312336 / 831-2201 extensions 261 and 263
Fax: (632) 832-3965 / 834-0177
Email: sprojects@citem.com.ph
URL: www.citem.com.ph/ntf