SERVING as a venue to showcase the products of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Northern Mindanao, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber) held its annual 10th Oro Best Expo in Centrio Ayala Mall's activity center on October 16 to 18.
The Cagayan de Oro Business Enterprises, Services and Trade Expo (Oro Best) is a flagship event of Oro Chamber to address the concerns of MSMEs on networking, market development, policy advocacy for entrepreneurship, and the growth and sustainability of the chamber member companies.
With several investors coming in the country, particularly in Northern Mindanao, the Oro Best Expo, according to Oro Chamber, considers this event as its way of helping Cagayan de Oro City to strengthen its role as a major business destination in the region and positions itself to be the trading, logistic and services center of Mindanao.
Efren Uy, past president and the incumbent treasurer of Oro Chamber, said the trade expo is also to expose businesses to new products, innovations and techniques, particularly on how to market their products.
“It’s really keeping them updated to whatever the new innovation on the market,” Uy said.
More than 60 exhibitors are present in the three-day trade expo, according to Uy, adding that the number of exhibitors increased compared to last year.
“We, in the Oro Chamber, are always looking for more exhibitors but every year, it varies because when it comes to this kind of exhibit, it depends on the peace and order here in our locality,” Uy said.
“Just like what happened last year, medyo bumaba. Right now, it's doing good, much better than last year,” he added.
Among the exhibitors are the Department of Trade and Industry, A Brown Company Inc., 2GO, Seda Centrio, Bite Me Up, the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Boysen, Twinbee, Parasat, Asia Brewery Inc., Globe, Monster Kitchen, and Nestle.
Uy also shared how the trade expo last year was able to attract almost 10,000 people, of which were not only from Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao, but also from places all over the country.
Apart from the exhibit of products of MSMEs, a three-day job fair was also conducted during the trade expo, which is located in the third floor bridgeway of Centrio Ayala Mall.
It is to cater to the unemployed workforce in Northern Mindanao.
“Oro Best Expo will continue to champion the promotion of our competitive products, services, places, programs, people, and industries,” the Oro Chamber said.
“We aim to have a festive business month celebration to send a strong message that CDO remains to be a leading business hub in Northern Mindanao,” it added.