Tuesday, October 07, 2008 142 entrepreneurs join 10th Likha ng Central Luzon
ANGELES CITY -– About 142 entrepreneurs will showcase their best products at the 10th Likha ng Central Luzon trade fair from October 8 to 12 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Director Blesila Lantayona of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon on Monday said the Likha ng Central Luzon is a major regional trade promotion event jointly organized by DTI, Philexport-Central Luzon and the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the region.
“The fair which is being held annually, serves as the culminating activity of a package of industry and trade-related programs given to the entrepreneurs in the region. It aims to develop the existing micro and small enterprises and create the region’s next generation of exporters from among the Likha participants,” Lantayona said.
Now on its 10th year, Lantayona said the Likha ng Central Luzon trade fair has proven to be an effective venue to promote the products of the region to institutionalize buyers and exporters based in Metro Manila. “It has become one of the much-awaited trade event of the region’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) because of its significant impact to the operations of their business,” she added.
For this year, a total of 142 entrepreneurs will join the trade fair with six coming from Aurora, 10 from Bataan, 42 from Bulacan, 28 from Nueva Ecija, 36 from Pampanga, and 10 from Zambales.
Lantayona said out of the 142 exhibitors, 76 are One-Town-One-Products (Otop) micro, small and medium enterprises.
She added that consistent with the fair’s theme this year, “Natatanging Produkto, Ipagmalaki sa Buong Mundo,” quality and competitive products will be showcased in Likha. This includes processed food, bags, fashion accessories, jewelry, garments, leather goods, furniture, ceramics, organic and natural products, gifts and holiday decors.
According to Lantayona, a special showcase of semi-processed and new products developed from raw materials abundant in the region will be the highlight of this year’s Likha.
The raw materials that will be highlighted are as follows: Aurora’s sabutan, Bataan and Bulacan’s bamboo, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac’s corn husk, Zambales’ serpentine and Nueva Ecija and Tarlac’s water lily.
Part of the Likha program is also the awarding of top three sellers in the 2007 Likha ng Central Luzon. These are Casamoda Handicraft which produces wooden kitchenware out of Kamagong, home decors, chopsticks and candle holders; Lualhati Enterprise which makes curtains, pillows, throw pillows, bags and bed sheets’ and Jesslyn Marie Marketing which makes sala sets out of rattan wicker, home decors made of runo, dividers, and baskets.
Laso, five municipal branding program from Bataan will be launched. These are the Mariveles bags, Udyong mangoes, Bagac casoy, Mabatang brooms, and Lika Morong Vinegar.
