22 October 2020 via Zoom

[Acknowledgements]

Ladies and gentlemen, magandang araw po sa inyong lahat and welcome to FAME+!

In spite of COVID-19, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)—together with the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)—is launching Manila FAME. But like with DTI’s other trade events, we’ve transitioned to holding this long-running event online.

Called FAME+, this is a digital version of Manila FAME to benefit exhibitors, buyers, and other stakeholders of the Philippines’ home, fashion, and lifestyle industries. FAME+ taps the big names in the industry in delivering a reliable and well-structured website that will provide the best experience for the exhibitors, buyers, and stakeholders.

Ang platform na ito ang pinakabagong venue para sa ating manufacturers, MSMEs brands, at artisans upang maitanghal ang kanilang mga produkto sa mas malawak na merkado, habang nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga Filipino at global audiences online. So, this is really a platform that can present our products while our exporters and exhibitors are able to coordinate and talk to the buyers, whether local or foreign. Bilang kasunod na bahagi ng export promotions ng DTI, ang FAME+ ay masisiguro at mapapaunlad ang searchability ng Philippine products and companies online. And once again, this is with global reach.

We promise that the Manila FAME trade show experience will also translate well with the new digital platform. In the website, you can expect a community of exhibitors and their various products populating the FAME+ digital catalogue. There is also an online magazine available on the website called “Touchpoint” where you can read articles about the exhibitors and the event.

All registered exhibitors have their own digital storefronts on the website that can be viewed by local and international buyers anytime and anywhere. Exhibitors will also benefit from our Digital Content Amelioration Program to improve their content and align their digital marketing efforts. Furthermore, we’ve waived exhibitors’ onboarding and subscription fees for one year, as Usec. Gani mentioned, from October 2020 to October 2021.

Buyers, on the other hand, can message exhibitors directly or the FAME+ Buyer Marketing Team support via WhatsApp. They can also enjoy exclusive discount vouchers, rewards, services, as well as exclusive access to product specifications and creative content. Moreover, they can make Business Matching & Virtual Meeting Requests via our Business Matching system.

The Design Commune, Manila FAME’s product development program and special setting, will be part of the website as well with a new product development process. This process—which includes designing, prototyping and presenting—is aimed to promote sustainability and creativity while bringing ideas to life. Moreover, this program has been taken to the next level through 3D rendering and virtual exhibitions.

Moving forward, CITEM will continuously produce and launch a series of online events and capacity-building seminars and programs to boost exhibitors’ promotions and sales.

The first is the Intimate Conversations with Creative Minds, which will highlight “ITIM: Material Manipulations in Black.” This event will both physically and digitally display designer pieces that were meant to be showcased in the now-canceled Fuorisalone event in Italy. The second is the PH x Tokyo 2020-2021 Program Launch, a new initiative of CITEM that aims to help young and emerging Filipino designers to introduce their brands to Japan’s thriving fashion market.

While we will miss the experience of going around the exhibits of Manila FAME this year because of the pandemic, FAME+ will be a good replacement in the meantime. More importantly, the goal of FAME+ is the same as the physical Manila FAME: to develop, nurture, and promote globally competitive Philippine Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs).

While Manila FAME is part of our advocacy to showcase Philippines world class products, DTI is also doing this to support our MSMEs so that we can generate jobs and employment for our countrymen. Again, what we are trying to do here is to really promote Philippine-made products and encouraging everyone to “Buy, Buy, Buy” local products and go local. At the end of the day, we are doing this for the benefit of the Filipino people so that they could have more comfortable and prosperous lives as promised by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Thank you to everyone here for making this a reality at mabuhay tayong lahat.♦

Date of Release: 23 October 2020