Trade fair showcases local goods

By Kim Villafuerte

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Camarines Sur and DTI Camarines Norte joined forces for the first time to showcase and celebrate local products during a five-day trade fair event held at the Atrium of Robinsons Naga from April 10-14, earning a total gross sale of 4.5 million pesos.

163 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) participated in the event with 141 coming from Camarines Sur and 22 from Camarines Norte.

Everyone was invited to visit, explore and buy products from the trade fair where a variety of locally sourced and grown products, such as coffee, Pili nuts, taro chips, dried fish, honey and handmade wooden crafts were showcased.

One of the primary goals of Feria de Camarines is to support local businesses and strengthen the regional economy by providing a platform for local MSMEs to promote their products as well as by encouraging the public to buy and invest in their goods.

DTI Regional Director Dindo Nabol stated that there should also be an inflow of revenue in the region, not just outflow. He pointed out that most of the investors in Bicol are shopping malls which limits the generation of local wealth, affecting the income of Bicolanos.

During the five-day event, there were daily programs and activities conducted including seminars, digital marketing sessions, and market matching opportunities for MSMEs to gain connection with potential buyers.

DTI collaborated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make sure that all of the MSMEs followed standard good manufacturing practices.

Additionally, according to Nabol, DTI plans to bring Feria de Camarines to Manila this year.