ANGELES CITY – To provide this city’s micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) a venue to showcase their products, the local government here under the leadership of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan staged the Buy Angeles Trade Fair.
The Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (ACEDIPO) organized the trade fair, which is now on its second year, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) Pampanga Provincial Office.
Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, ACEDIPO Head Bernadette Galinato and DTI-Pampanga Director Elenita Ordonio led the ribbon-cutting ceremony signaling the formal opening of the local trade fair.
Galinato said the activity serves as the local government’s support to city-based entrepreneurs to boost the promotion of Angeleño-made products.
In her speech, she added that the city has been tapping the MSMEs and enjoining them in various national and regional business expositions to widen their scope of market.
A total of 24 stalls were installed at the City Hall main lobby to serve the trade fair which will run from June 26 to 29.
The four-day trade fair showcases Angeleño-made organic and processed food, pastries and delicacies, home-made beverages and condiments, arts and crafts, home decors, cosmetics, fashion accessories and jewelries, and other health and wellness products.
DTI Pampanga Director Ordonio extended her congratulations to the city government citing the success of the first Buy Angeles Trade Fair in 2017.
“The staging of the second year of this trade fair goes to show that the local government is successful at its first attempt in 2017. We hope that the city will continue with this program which is a viable venue to showcase the best of Angeles City,” Ordonio said.
Meanwhile, Ordonio also reminded the participating MSMEs to accomplish and have for themselves a license to operate from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has also placed a help desk at the trade fair to extend information on the agency’s patent services, copyright registration, trademark services,
For his part, Vice Mayor Nepomuceno cited the vital role of the MSMEs in the local economy. He also urged them to remain persistent with their businesses and that the city, through the ACEDIPO, will always be in support of the micro to medium business sector.
“It only takes one successful business to change one’s life forever. Keep on being determined, time will come, you will all succeed. The city government is always here to help you in ways possible,” the vice mayor added.
In his eagerness to help the MSMEs, Nepomuceno also asked DTI Pampanga to hold a mentoring session at the city’s legislative building on ways on how the MSMEs can market their own products.
To date, Angeles City has two DTI Negosyo Centers with one in Robinsons Place Angeles and another at the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MACCI) Building.
The city will soon have its own permanent outlet for Angeles City-made products and souvenirs with the “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) Store to be situated at the city’s heritage district.