CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — About 81 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the region will showcase their product in the upcoming 3rd Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair.
Of the 81 participating entrepreneurs, 58 are engaged in the business of processed foods; 9 are gifts, decors and houseware; 6 are organic and natural products; 4 are home furnishing and 4 are wearable and homestyles.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Nueva Ecija Provincial Director and Regional CARP Manager Brigida Pili said by province, Pampanga has the most number of participants in the trade fair with 20 MSMEs followed by Bataan with 14; Tarlac-13; Bulacan-11; Nueva Ecija-10; Zambales-7 and Aurora-6.
“With the number of participating MSMEs this year, we are really expecting more sales. Our target sales is PhP1.8 million or about PhP20,000 per agrarian reform beneficiary for the entire duration of the trade fair,” Pili said.
For her part, DTI Regional Director Judith Angeles invites the public to buy and support local products since the primary aim of the trade fair is to link the exhibitors to the market to gain more profit while at the same time promoting the region’s finest products.
“Participating exhibitors of the trade fair are recipients of DTI services such as SME Roving Academy, Shared Service Facilities, Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprises and other business advisory and product development services to ensure that the products sold in the fair are market ready,” Angeles said.
CARP Regional Trade Fair 2019 is organized by the DTI through its CARP Program Management Office, in coordination with Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Science and Technology, local government units and the MSME development councils.
It will be held on November 21 to 24 at Marquee Mall in Angeles City. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)