A TOTAL of 105 local and foreign exhibitors have participated in 8th World Food Expo 2013 (Wofex) Mindanao, which opened Thursday at SMX Convention Center in Davao City.
The three-day event showcases 90 percent non-local exhibitors and only 10 percent came from Davao Region.
Joel Pascual, PEPGroup Inc. president, the event organizer, said that through the annual event, which is held in various regions in the country, they will be able to help and develop further the small and medium entrepreneurs.
"If you're an existing entrepreneur, the main purpose is to upgrade, if hindi, we are encouraging them to be negosyante," Pascual said.
He also said the expo serves as a one-stop shop, from food ingredients to food processing machineries, which are showcased by various companies that are into food production.
Pascual said the event aims is also to give insights to existing entrepreneurs who ventured into food processing to further increase their income.
"For Mindanao to progress even more, we want to encourage them to process the food, instead of selling raw bananas, or fresh produces, i-process nila," Pascual said.
"We are giving people better chance of success when you decide to go to the food business," he added.
Moreover, Mohd Salleh Bin Ombra, sales executive for export of Lahad Datu Flour Mill, a Malaysian company producing wheat and an exhibitor at Wofex, said they joined the exposition to promote their products and eventually venture in the Mindanao market.
Ombra said the Mindanao market is being targeted by their company because people are also inclined in eating Halal-certified foods.
"We are trying to grab any opportunity to help us promote our product and explore the market," he said.
Pascual said part of the expo is a business matching among exhibitors and interested local entrepreneurs who want to upgrade or venture into food business.
He said they chose Davao City as the venue of the event because many exhibitors were not able to participate in their previous organized exposition in Manila because of distance.