NEGRENSE producers will again showcase the bests of the province at this year’s Negros Trade Fair, which will officially kick off Tuesday night, September 25.
Negros Occidental officials headed by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson along with Association of Negros Producer (ANP) president Christina Gaston and event chair Catherine Cusi-Lobaton will lead the ceremonies during the Arima, or opening night, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
Also joining them are some partner-representatives including Ayala Land Inc. Senior Vice President Jose Emmanuel Jalandoni, Ayala Malls General Manager Mariana Zobel de Ayala, and those from different agencies like Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Tourism, among others.
ANP also invited all the senators yet no one has confirmed attendance as of Monday night, September 24.
Aside from the ceremonial ringing of the bells that signals the official start of the annual event, the Arima will again showcase the cooking prowess of some Negrense chefs through a cooking demonstration.
Themed “Sweet Talk: Sugar and Spice, Awesome and Nice,” the activity organized by ANP in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental will run until September 30.
Cusi-Lobaton earlier said that the 33rd Negros Trade Fair will hype up the province’s sugar industry, particularly its story that has positively influenced the lifestyle of Negrenses.
This year’s edition of the province’s biggest trade fair is a tribute to the sugar industry, Cusi-Lobaton said.
“The sugar industry started it all, because of it the lifestyle of Negrenses has improved. Thus, we want to hype up its glory especially its contribution to the province’s growth and dynamic culture,” she added.
Banking on the popularity of the annual trade fair, the Provincial Government will also highlight Negros Occidental as an investment destination in the country by hosting the “Invest in Negros Business Forum” at Dusit Thani Hotel Manila still in Makati City on Wednesday, September 26.
The business forum is in collaboration with ANP, Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Inc. (ICCPI), and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).
It is positioned to provide a window for potential investors to be “acquainted” with business opportunities in Negros Occidental.
Also, it is part of the province’s campaign to invite investors and promote local economic growth.
Meanwhile, participating-producers have generated P25.5 million in sales during the 32nd Negros Trade Fair in 2017.
With better and innovative products this year, ANP has expressed optimism to surpass the said income.