THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged producers and consumers in Negros Occidental to help boost the local industry by patronizing locally-made products.
Lea Gonzales, provincial director of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the approaching holiday season, where spending capacity of consumers is high, is also an opportunity for the province to promote its products.
Thus, local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are encouraged to capitalize more on utilizing creativity and ingenuity in coming up with truly Negros products, Gonzales said.
“On top of Negrense buyers, the province also caters to large number of domestic and foreign tourists during long holidays. This can be an ideal time to showcase the best of Negros,” she added.
Among the in-demand products during the holiday season are those under the food and gift, décor and homestyle sectors (GDH).
In terms of food, Negros Occidental has a wide variety of fresh and processed food which can be developed further through product innovation, it added.
Gonzales said that constant innovation, or having that mindset and values of being open to improvement, will help local MSMEs become more competitive amid the challenges brought by the Asean economic integration.
Aside from “producing local,” the DTI is also pushing for its “buy local” slogan as an initiative to promote truly Negros products.
Gonzales said that corporate firms and government offices normally purchase manufactured goods particularly appliances and other gadgets given as gifts or incentives to their employees.
“Instead of buying these manufactured products, we are urging Negrense consumers to patronize those produced by our entrepreneurs,” DTI official said, adding that “supporting local goods would help spur more enterprises in the provinces.”
With more enterprises, more local employment is created resulting to better circulation of money, Gonzales said.
Aside from food and GDH, other sectors which Negros Occidental has huge potentials include fashion and garments, furniture and furnishings, natural and organic, and tourism.