PARTICIPATING micro enterprises from Negros Occidental generated about P3.2 million in sales during the three-day 2017 International Food Exposition (Ifex) Philippines held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City until Sunday.
Acting Provincial Administrator Lucille Gelvolea on Tuesday, May 23, said 12 enterprises assisted by the Provincial Government have generated total pre-orders or booked sales for various products worth P991,000, and booth or direct sales amounting to almost P50,000.
The figures are on top of about P2.2 million worth of under negotiation sales specifically from banana chip products through various traders and buyers from countries like Taiwan, Kuwait, Japan, Australia and Korea.
“Aside from generating sales, Negrense producers have gained the opportunity to meet local and international food companies,” Gelvolea said, adding that enterprises from the province have also established market linkages, saw the trends in the food industry, launched and tested their products in the market.
Ifex Philippines was organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in collaboration with other agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA).
It is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on the Philippines and Asia's ethnic and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products.
Of the participating-enterprises from Negros Occidental, Muy Bien Ventures Company Inc. bagged this year’s Katha Award for its turmeric tea with calamansi as best new product under the beverage category.
Other assisted-micro enterprises are Aisha-Fil Foods Inc., Ophelia’s Food Products, Options, AlterTrade Philippines, Kyriale’s Cakes and Pastries, Marfe’s Banana Bar, Norgie’s, Melva’s Food Products, Anyol’s Foods, Ely’s Food Products, J, A and R, and Satoca Cooperative comprised of Codimar, Ayen’s Smoked Fish, Mangrove Guardians Dried Fish, and 656 Food Innovation.
Gelvolea said aside from financial assistance, the provincial government also provided these enterprises various trainings and seminars to prepare for the international trade event.
Among the Negrense products promoted in this year’s Ifex Philippines were smoked and dried fish, seafood noodles, banana and taro chips, bagoong, banana marbles and bar, pastries, natural raw and organic muscovado sugar, and herbal teas.
Gelvolea said the province is currently working on further helping local enterprises through active collaboration with agencies like the DTI, DA, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Science and Technology.
“Just after the Ifex, the governor instructed us to review the programs and plans on how to further develop micro, small and medium enterprises in the province,” she added.