Saturday, September 06, 2008 Kahimunan nets P26 million
THE Kahimunan Mindanao 2008: Mindanao Island Fair highlighted the potentials of Mindanao SME's best products to capture a significant market in a four-day exposition last August 22 to 25 at the Atrium, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City.
Preliminary reports showed that total sales generated during the event amounted to P26.45 million, 32.7 percent higher than the targeted sales of P20 million.
Central Mindanao earned the highest sales amounting to P10.8 million, which is 40.82 percent of the total sales. Northern Mindanao ranked second with P7.96 million or 30.10 percent of the total sales. Caraga region followed at P6.55 million, 24.78 percent of total sales with 29 sellers coming from that region.
The top three sellers from Caraga were: Ocean Bounties, seafood producer from Surigao City, registering P5.53 million sales topping the roll in overall sales for the region. Rayda Woodcraft, from Surigao del Sur, followed the list with total overall sales of P20 million. Batrebun Multi Purpose Cooperative, a wood furniture producer from Agusan del Sur, ranked third with P13 million.
Caraga Handicraft Makers Association Inc. (CHMAI) of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, on the other hand, was awarded the Best Dressed Booth for Arts & Crafts.
Batrebun MPC (Agusan del Sur), Wild Trends (Agusan del Sur) and RJ Woods (Agusan del Norte) were also nominated for Best Dressed Booth for Furniture.
Exhibitors from Caraga include makers of food items, fashion accessories, gifts, toys and house wares, and wood furniture. The fair showcased the best products of the island and highlighted the one town one product or Otops in the Mindanao Region.
Among the products highlighted during the fair, the gifts and handicrafts sector like the T'nalak, handmade paper and sinamay-based products got the biggest share of 61.89 percent of the overall sales. The processed food products, examples of which are the tuna value-added products and the processed meat earned 35.72 percent of the total sales.
A total of 123 exhibitors from Western, Northern, Southern, and Central Mindanao, as well as Caraga converged and displayed assorted products at the Kahimunan Mindanao 2008.
Two prestigious groups of buyers coordinated by the Bureau of Domestic Trade (BDT) and the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade Inc. (APFTI) graced the event and had business matching sessions with the producers. Booked sales from the business matching activities accounted to more than 80 percent of the total sales generated.
Regional day presentations, technical sessions and financing services marked the first three days of the trade fair.
The One Barangay One Product (Obop) Program of Representative Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro was launched during the fair. Rodriguez emphasized that he was impressed and inspired by the success of the One Town One Product (Otop) Program, thus the launching of the OBOP in his district.
The live talk show, which was guested in by five successful SMEs from the regions, was very informative especially to those who plan to open their own businesses. Their humble beginnings and their triumphs were discussed during said talk show, which was hosted by the GMA Kapuso DJs.
Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Northern Mindanao, Kahimunan Mindanao 2008 was conducted in partnership with Promote CDO Foundation, BDT, APFTI, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport)-Northern Mindanao, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Ayala Alegria Hills, and GMA Network.
The Kahimunan Mindanao 2008 was supported by the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Northern Mindanao, headed by Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo of Camiguin, the local government units all over Mindanao, congressman Teofisto Guingona III, 2nd District of Bukidnon, Rodriguez, Governor Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental, and the host, City Mayor Constantino Jaraula. (Press release)
