The Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR), formally launches the IMPAKABSAT Regional Trade Fair 2019, last 15 November at Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, which saw the gathering of around 80 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the region’s provinces.
Regional Director for CAR, Myrna Pablo, accentuated through the opening program, IMPAKABSAT, which stands for the region’s six provinces, namely, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, and the city of Baguio and is then completed with the Ilocano word “kabsat” which means brother or sister, describes the whole of the Cordilleras. This is a manifestation of the rich and vibrant culture in the region and how the products of the participating MSMEs reflect such.
One Town One Product (OTOP) Next Gen Program Manager and Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga encouraged the MSMEs to continuously innovate their products through availing OTOP assistance on product development, design, packaging, branding, production capability, among others, transitioning them to be more market-oriented and innovation-driven.
“Ang mandatos ng ating Presidente ay tulungan ang lahat ng mga negosyante sa bansa. Sa pamamagitan ng OTOP Next Gen, ang simpleng produkto ninyo ay sasailalim sa product development at innovation tulad ng packaging at branding. Mas magiging marketable ang produkto, mas mabenta sa merkado.” ASec. Naga said during the opening ceremony.
The annual IMPAKABSAT aims to develop and strengthen small and medium enterprises from the region, through the promotion of its indigenous crafts, skills, resources and investment potentials. Products featured at the trade fair vary from organic and natural products, fresh & processed food, wearables and homestyles, coffee, bamboocraft, woodcraft, and furniture & furnishings.
This year’s edition of the trade fair puts the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and OTOP Next Gen Program beneficiaries on the spotlight. Likewise, CAR being the coffee capital in the Philippines, visitors and shoppers during the fair were served the best coffee in the region through KAPEtirya.
IMPAKBSAT 2019 will run from 15-24 November 2019, with regular exhibit hours, 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.♦
Date of Release: 22 November 2019