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Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Foundation behind the success of Mindanao MSMEs
THERE goes a saying: "Behind a man's success is a woman."
But for the micro, small, and medium enterprises in Mindanao, behind their success is the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, Inc.
For 10 years now, the major event of Mindanao manufacturers--the Mindanao Trade Expo or MTE--has been gaining so much popularity and admiration from a lot of people, not just because of the products that are being showcased during the exhibit, but as well as the benefits that it is pouring on its exhibitors.
It was in 1996 when MTE started to showcase the bounty of the island.
Mindanao was then on an upswing, investments were growing, the economy was continually picking up.
Exports, earlier recognized by the government as the lynchpin of the Philippine economic recovery program, was fueling the country's thrust towards the new millennium.
It was in the same year that a handful of Mindanao entrepreneurs saw the need to bring the products of the region to the forefront of the global market. For them, it was time to showcase Mindanao, its products, its potential, and best of all, its people.
The vision was there. The mission was in place. The objectives were already identified. And the strategies were being brainstormed.
Despite the good reasons behind the setting up of the trade exhibit, there were non-believers who just raised their brows. They were saying that how could Mindanao compete with other trade shows in Manila where in fact the place is being known, not just in the country but as well as abroad, as a war-torn area.
Do we have the resources? Do we have the capability? Do we have the system? Do we have the organization? These were just few of the many questions raised by those who never believed in the homegrown talents of the island.
If there were non-believers, there were believers too! They were the ones who saw the need, the potential, and the reason for MTE's being.
This group of Mindanao entrepreneurs and their ally of believers knew that difficulties place on their path were not meant to discourage them, but instead to show further their courage, persistence, determination, and strength.
Thus was born the MTE, ably led by its founding members Ann Pamintuan, Benjamin Kalalo, Jr., Noemi Avanceña, Maricris Brias, Joy Frances Raya, Priscilla Tionko, and Anthony Soriano.
The group has proven they have the capability to hold an international trade show of such magnitude. The results were encouraging and from then on, the show grew to be the foremost exponent of showcasing the products of Mindanao to the world. It became the organization in the forefront of bridging the gap that brought Mindanao goods to the rest of the world.
On August 23, 1999, the group was formally organized and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Being the major exponent of Mindanao-based MSMEs, MTEFI sees the urgent need to further expand the island's share in the world market.
It has likewise felt the necessity to support the government's export program, create jobs, add disposable income to families, and help the struggling MSMEs in terms of training, technology transfer, and market promotion.
Last year, the MTE went to Manila and showcased Mindanao's bounty at the Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City where it reaped huge figures both of cash and potential sales.
Early this year, the MTEFI entered into a partnership with the Canadian government through the Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkage (Pearl) 2
project.
In the wake of this development, MTEFI executive director Ma. Luisa Dominguez, said the organization could now extend more assistance to its members.
The partnership is aimed at fostering further development of MSMEs in Mindanao by providing them with institutionalized marketing assistance "thereby significantly contributing to the increase in exports, generation of investments, and creation of more jobs."
The Pearl-2 provided some financial assistance to MTEFI for it to carry on its aspirations for the MSMEs in the island as it stages the 10th Mindanao Trade Expo International 2005 slated from August 12 to 15 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Quirino St., Davao City.
Highlighting MTE International's dynamic evolution is its goal of "Enhancing Wealth for Job Creation."
Over 200 MSMEs from Mindanao and from the other areas (but sourcing out from Mindanao) and exhibitors from the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) region representing the industry, trade, services, tourism, agriculture, and technology sectors.
This year's expo will be staged back-to-back with the Mindanao Exporters' Congress which aims to discuss issues concerning the industry.
Success stories
The previous issues of Sun.Star Davao earlier this year have featured two of the many success stories that have sprouted from MTE, to wit: the Great Gifts and Souvenirs, Inc. (GGSI) and Nieva's Arts and Crafts.
In fact, GGSI and Nieva's Arts and Crafts are already exporting their products to various markets such as the United States and Europe.
MTEFI vows to create and mold more of them as the organization grows older and stronger every year. (JMM)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (June 22, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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