Micro small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) from Central Luzon earned a total of Php 94.4 Million in sales in 2016 from their participation in local and international trade fairs organized by the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office III and its provincial offices.
Central Luzon trade fair participants sell the best products of the region at the Ayala Center in Makati City during the Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair.
A total of 1,587 entrepreneurs from the region participated in 120 trade fairs that were held in the region and in the different parts of the country in 2016. The MSMEs also benefitted from their participation in high traffic venues like malls and exhibition centers in Metro Manila. Notable among the trade fairs is the Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair, which was held on October 10 to 13, 2016 at the Glorietta Activity Center in the Ayala Malls in Makati City. The Likha trade fair enabled more than 100 Central Luzon sellers earn a total of Php 32.55 Million within the four-day selling period of the fair. The National Trade Fair held recently on December 7 to 11, 2016 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City was participated in by 28 exhibitors from Central Luzon. They earned a total of Php 7.02 Million in sales from the five day trade fair where they sold food products, wearables, gifts, decors and housewares. Another big ticket International Fair for Central Luzon MSMEs is the Manila FAME held on April 21-24 and October 20 to 22, 2016 at the World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center, respectively. The FAME show which is held twice a year drew a combined sales of Php 7.4 Million for the 32 Central Luzon exhibitors which are mostly exporters.
The DTI-3 also led a contingent of eight (8) entrepreneurs from Bulacan who participated in the 2016 Philippine Festival Trade Fair held in Hibiya Park, Tokyo, Japan on June 18 to 19, 2016. The delegation was also able to develop market linkages with the business community in Japan.
Pampanga MSMEs continue to have the most trade fair exhibitors in 2016 with 497 earning a total of Php 38.34 Million, followed by Bulacan with 280 sellers who earned Php 20.49 Million and Bataan with 242 sellers who earned Php 5.23 Million. Nueva Ecija had 197 participants who earned a total of Php 20.18 Million while Aurora had 151 sellers who earned a total of Php 4.95 Million. Tarlac had 146 participants earning Php 4.02 Million. There were also 74 trade fair participants from Zambales earning a total of Php 1.19 Million.