The first Virtual National Trade Fair, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in collaboration with the Regional Operations Group, ended its seven-day run last 2 February, with encouraging results and lessons for Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Envisioned mainly as a purely digital B2B event, the Virtual National Trade Fair recorded a total of 5, 473 registered visitors, who checked out the offerings in the booths of 110 exhibitors. Notably, Crissander Enterprises from Region 7 received orders for its handmade fashion accessories and gifts amounting to over P1.6M. Its main products include earrings, necklaces, bangles, keychains, and bookmarks made of indigenous wood such as jackfruit, coconut, madre de cacao, and bangkao. Meanwhile, Tumandok Crafts Industries from Region 6, which produces home accessories and decor as well as storage and organizer items, was able to book over P1.5M worth of orders. As negotiations are concluded between buyers and the exhibitors, the reported revenues generated is expected to increase in the coming months.
According to BDTP Dir. Marievic Bonoan, “Although the numbers may seem small in comparison to the tens of thousands of fairgoers for the on-site national trade fairs of previous years, we are still pleased with the attendance in this first VNTF considering that most of these are institutional buyers and not just passersby. Our exhibitors were able to successfully transact business virtually, and this is an important learning experience for all of us.”
Another aspect of the Virtual National Trade Fair were the workshops and learning sessions offered online as part of the program of events. These were well-attended, with over six thousand views on the virtual conference hall and the social media livestreams. The webinars garnered generally positive feedback from the attendees, who remarked that the topics were interesting and helpful for those aspiring to start their own business ventures.
With the positive start for the first Virtual National Trade Fair signaling an optimistic outlook for the year, the BDTP is set to launch more programs to help Filipino MSMEs expand their market presence and continue on their digital transformation journey in 2021.
For more information about the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, please follow their social media accounts @BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You may also email bdtp@dti.gov.ph.♦
Date of Release: 10 February 2021