Coconut products trade fair connects entrep, buyers

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- At least 41 local entrepreneurs from six provinces in the Bicol Region showcased their products during the opening of the Bicol Coconut Trade Fair organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday.

The five-day fair will run until Aug. 23, with a sales target of PHP1.5 million.

Victor Emmanuel Castro, chief of the DTI-5 business development division, said aside from generating sales, the DTI aims to help local entrepreneurs connect with institutional buyers year-round.

“We want them to establish connections with institutional buyers, which will ensure that they can receive orders for their products throughout the year,” he said.

The trade fair represents the culmination of all the assistance the DTI provided to the entrepreneurs, he added.

“Our support includes skills development, product development, and improvements in labeling. We also offer ideas on how to enhance their products. The trade fair is the ultimate test of these interventions, providing them an opportunity to sell their products and increase their income,” Castro added.

On sale at the fair are virgin coconut oil (VCO), VCO-based soap, coco coir, orchid hangers, coconut wine, coconut vinegar, coconut flour, coconut-based native delicacies, and accessories made from coconut.

Edwin Ariya from the Simawa Farmers’ Producers Cooperative said the trade fair is a chance to sell their products directly to buyers.

“It is beneficial because when the finished product is ready and available in the market, it allows us to earn money and showcase our offerings. The more people who experience it, especially those who appreciate the aroma, the better,” he added.

Sofia Juserhine Bucad, division chief of the Philippine Coconut Authority, thanked the DTI for its initiative to promote the coconut industry in the region.

“I truly believe that the progress our coconut products have made for our farmers is significant. Previously, their market reach was limited, but now it has expanded globally. This has been the DTI’s greatest contribution in enhancing and broadening the market for coconut products.” (PNA)