DTI 12 showcases region's best at International Food Expo

 

Pasay City, Metro Manila – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12 has extended support to 18 food processing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from the region by showcasing them at the International Food Expo (IFEX). This initiative aimed to promote and market their products, highlighting the agency's commitment to assisting local businesses.

The three-day event, than ran from May 26 to 28 held at the Word Trade Center, marks a significant milestone for DTI 12 as it represents the culmination of its product development interventions for MSMEs. Only products that meet the rigorous quality criteria set by the organizer, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), are being showcased and sold at the expo.

DTI 12 Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales expressed in an interview the tremendous opportunity presented to MSMEs participating in IFEX. This platform allows them to exhibit their products to a wider audience, fostering sales and establishing connections with both local and international markets.

“By participating in the International Food Expo, the MSMEs would have the opportunity to showcase their products to a wider audience, including potential buyers and investors from both local and international markets. This exposure can greatly benefit them by increasing their visibility, expanding their customer base, and potentially securing business partnerships or export opportunities,” said Politud-Gabunales.

IFEX, a renowned trade event in the Philippines, is dedicated to the food and beverage industry. It serves as a premier platform for showcasing a diverse array of food products, ingredients, processing technologies, and services. Participants include food manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, and suppliers.

The highlighted MSMEs, offering a range of products such as processed chips, fruit jams and juices, coffee, chocolates, virgin coconut oil, coconut sugar, and processed fish, receive assistance through DTI's initiatives, namely the One Town, One Product (OTOP), Industry Cluster Enhancement (ICE), and the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) Programs.

IFEX Philippines serves as a hybrid one-stop business-to-business (B2B) platform aiming to optimize the sourcing experience of food buyers from anywhere in the world. (DTI 12)

###