RD Grace Falgui-Baluyan, ARD Daria R. Mingaracala and OIC-SMED Leo Corsino at the NTF 2019 Green Booth.

The Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) together with the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices staged the 2019 National Trade Fair on August 22-25, 2019 at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Dubbed as “A Green Show” the 2019 NTF gave preference to exhibitors whose products and processes were organic, sustainable and eco-friendly. A total of 276 exhibitors from all over the country participated in the said event, 18 of which came from region 1. Various products such as furniture and furnishings, houseware and décor, wearables and fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs, as well as heirloom food and health and wellness products were sold at the 2019 NTF.

Mr. Felipe Garduque, owner of Northway Crafts located at San Juan La Union, was delighted to see one of his products be featured at the 2019 NTF official Logo and Event Design. His decorative ‘Bilao’ has levelled-up after it undergone Product Development. During the Trade Fair, he was able to close a deal with a Hotel and Resort in El Nido to supply decorative ‘Bilao’ as hotel room decors.

Also an exhibitor from Region 1, Mr. Perry Inacay of Dorevi Industries, San Carlos City Pangasinan, happily shared that his 175 pieces of bamboo clothes hanger were all sold out during the opening day of the Trade Fair. Priced at Php 80 each, he also received lots of additional orders. He discerned that consumers are now becoming green conscious thus becoming more supportive of eco-friendly products.

An estimate of Php 2.3 million sales were generated by MSMEs from the region.

MSMEs are identified as green advocates and forefront of the initiatives to: create sustainable products; use eco-friendly packaging; conserve energy and resources and explore green solutions to reduce their carbon footprint; and support and promotes environmental awareness. To widen the knowledge of entrepreneurs and shoppers on green initiatives, series of green sensitization and lectures along with green exhibits were also conducted.♦

Date of release: 4 September 2019