Monday, December 18, 2006 Kalinga sends delegation to Thai fair
TABUK, Kalinga -- A five-man member delegation from the capital town left last week for Nonthaburi, Thailand to attend a nine-day international One Town, One Product (Otop) fair from December 16 to 24.
Noryn Bagano of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the delegation is composed of Tabuk Mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr., Vice Mayor Rainier Sarol, Councilor Glen Wansi, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) Provincial Director Julie Banganan, and DTI Provincial Director Grace Baluyan.
Tabuk is the Otop model town in the Cordillera region.
The invitation came from the Department of Export Promotion (DEP) of Thailand to exhibitors from Asian countries, featuring the International Zone in the Otop program.
Thailand, which is now recognized as among the leading economies in Asia, is the model of the local Otop program. Otop in the Philippines is patterned after Thailand's One Tambon, One Product.
Indicating how advance Thailand's Otop has gone, participants in the International Fare were reserved country pavilions or exhibit spaces free at the Impact Exhibition Center.
All amenities are also free except for the travel, shipping and accommodation of exhibitors.
Included in the Thailand itinerary of the delegates are visits to the Asian heritage exhibition, Otop food festival featuring famous Asian foods, Otop village champion and provincial star Otop exhibition.
The team will also observe marketing practices of Thai entrepreneurs and possibly establish trade cooperation between them and the local producers.
The government is giving strong support to the Otop program down to the municipal levels, with Tabuk identified for its organic coffee.
There is also an existing partnership between the National Government through the DTI and the Municipal Government of Tabuk in the promotion of the program. Participation in the International Fair will boost marketing strategies of local producers, under the Otop program.
