THE ongoing Negros Producers Market, a two-week trade event at the Robinsons Place Bacolod, is positioned to boost Negrense producers and their products especially those from the rural areas in the province.

Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said a wide variety of products of 25 participating producers from various cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental are currently on display.

Themed “Seeking opportunities for better tomorrow,” the trade event running from September 1 to 15, 2021 is a joint project of the MBCCI, Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City Government.

Carbon, also the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for the Visayas, said the project aims to develop agribusiness in the rural areas of Negros Occidental.

“The objectives also include securing the jobs and livelihood of the ‘vulnerables’ and sharing the prosperity in the urban areas to the rural communities,” he added.

The participating producers are from different sectors like food, agriculture, gifts, decor and houseware (GDH), tourism, and apparel, among others.

During the first day of the trade event, they were able to generate at least P75,000 in sales.

"They may hit over P1 million in 15 days if the trend continues," Carbon said.

This is already the fourth of the series of trade events at the mall initiated by the business chamber since April this year.

From July 20 to August 4, it gathered at least 24 local micro and small enterprises at the same venue.

Prior to this, two more trade events were conducted at Ayala Malls Capitol Central and Robinsons Place Bacolod on June 1 to 15 and April 16 to May 2, respectively.

These activities are also aimed at helping small producers cope with the effects of the prevailing pandemic through one, enabling them to generate more income.

Carbon said the initiative is one of the three-pronged development agenda of the MBCCI for Negros Island.

The two others include developing industries with export potential for faster economic growth and stability like shrimp farming, crab meat and blue swimming crab, cattle industry including beef and dairy.

“Our other agenda is to strengthen the utility industries like water management, electric power, telecommunication and information technology services for sustainable growth,” he added.