MANILA, Philippines -The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to hold three international fairs as well as several domestic fairs this year to promote Philippine products and help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) grow.
“We will have three international fairs mainly two (editions of) Manila FAME plus IFEX (International Food Exhibition),” Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. told reporters.
The first edition of Manila FAME, the country’s premier trade event for design featuring furniture and fixtures, home accents, fashion accessories, as well as apparel and textiles, will be held on March 13 to 16 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
The second edition is slated to be held in October.
Apart from the Manila FAME, the DTI is also organizing the IFEX this year, a biennial event conducted in partnership with the Department of Agriculture considered to be the premier international sourcing hub for the finest ethnic Asian food, ingredients and raw materials.
Aside from international fairs, Manalo said the DTI will also continue holding national trade fairs under the Sikat Pinoy brand this year.
“I think this year, we will have the same number of national trade fairs under the Sikat Pinoy,” he said.
Last year, the DTI had Sikat Pinoy fairs focused on food, furniture and furnishings, fashion, art and various products for the holiday season.
As the Philippines is this year’s chair and host of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, Manalo said the DTI will also be holding trade fairs for the APEC meetings this year.
The APEC meetings will be held in various parts of the country, so trade fairs will be conducted in venues of major APEC activities.
The international and domestic trade fairs are being conducted to provide Philippine businesses, particularly MSMEs, a platform to showcase their products.
Through the trade fairs, the DTI wants to help MSMEs sell their products not just in the domestic market, but eventually overseas as well.