NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the Negros Trade Fair has grown by leaps and bounds as he took pride of the annual event showcasing to the world the best of the province.
Marañon led the opening rites of the 33rd Negros Trade Fair during the Arima, or opening night, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City on Tuesday, September 25.
He was joined by Development Bank of the Philippines chairman Alberto Romulo, Association of Negros Producers (ANP) president Christina Gaston, event chair Catherine Cusi-Lobaton, and top executives of Ayala Land Inc. and Ayala Malls.
The governor lauded the movers of one of the longest-running trade fair in the country, its participants and organizers.
"We have emerging tourism sites. In fact, our tourism industry has also grown by leaps and bounds," Marañon said, noting that the province continues to be the supplier of various livestock and poultry products, leader of organic farming, has blooming culinary sector and flourishing information technology industry, among others.
"These have attracted more local and foreign tourists to come to the province," he added.
Themed “Sweet Talk: Sugar and Spice, Awesome and Nice,” this year's Negros Trade Fair organized by ANP in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental will run until September 30.
Cusi-Lobaton, in his welcome message, said that for over a century, the people tilled the fertile soil of Negros to produce the "number one" export commodity of the Philippines, sugar.
"Today, we bring you more than this. Through the hands that bake, sew, weave, write, paint, crochet, print, design and more. The Negros Trade Fair is here to show who we are as a province, a people, a community, and a family," Cusi-Lobaton said.
She added that "this is Negros today, a new generation of people, a new generation of product for a new generation of customers."
The event chair also underscored that the annual event is an example of "bayanihan" the Negrense way as many have come together to collaborate and help promote Negros.
Cusi-Lobaton thanked the provincial government particularly Marañon for his staunch support in helping the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reach new markets and in participation in other marketing activities.
"For 33 years, our collaboration with the Province of Negros Occidental and other public and private partners has enabled new industries to grow and become sustainable," she added.