CITEM sets P369-M target sales from Manila FAME

MANILA, Philippines — The exports promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set a P369 million sales target from the country’s premier design and lifestyle trade event, Manila FAME.

Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan told reporters on the sidelines of the opening of Manila FAME, the aim is to generate $6.5 million (P338.91 million) worth of export sales from the event and P30 million in domestic sales, or from local buyers from the event.

Last year’s edition of Manila FAME generated export sales five percent lower than this year’s sales target.

Domestic sales generated from last year’s trade show, meanwhile, reached P40 million.

Juan said CITEM is upbeat the targets for exports and domestic sales could be achieved as this year’s event has more trade participants.

This year’s Manila FAME has a total of 350 participating firms, higher than the 285 last year.

Juan said CITEM is also optimistic of meeting the targets with more visitors expected this year as the agency has stepped up promotion efforts.

CITEM expects more than 7,000 visitors for this year’s Manila FAME, higher than the 6,000 individuals who went to last year’s event.

“When people come here and during our participation in overseas trade fairs, they see a renewed spirit so they want to come back to the source. Like what happened in Ambiente, they come in and they’re wow. We tell them, you should go to Manila FAME. So, we’ve actually gotten a lot of new showgoers because they see us in the overseas trade fairs and the way we actually promote, we’ve also changed the way we do things,” Juan said.

Juan said CITEM has become more active in utilizing social media to promote the trade event and Philippine products.

With most people opting to do their research online before making a purchase, she said CITEM is also working on utilizing the Google algorithm so that images of Philippine products would appear on the search engine of individuals planning to buy products offered by the country.

“That’s the way people buy now. Even before you know what you want, people search already. Those are things that we are really trying to do,” she said.

Held in April and October every year, Manila FAME seeks to promote the Philippines as a premier source of furniture, home and holiday decor, fashion, health and wellness, and food products.

Manila FAME is one of the longest running trade shows in the Asia Pacific and the only event in the country approved by Union des Foires Internationales, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.