Through the Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan (TNK) Program, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted the BAHANDI Eastern Visayas Trade Fair on 10-13 June, and the Samar Trade Fair alongside with the Diskwento Caravan and Entrepreneurship Seminar on 18 June 2019.

The TNK Caravan is a successful joint undertaking of DOLE, DTI, and other government agencies since 2017. It sought to bring Jobs and Business Fair all in one event to support creation of employment and income opportunities in Region 8.

Through the BAHANDI Trade Fair in Tacloban and the Samar Trade Fair in Catbalogan, 77 of DTI’s assisted micro, small and medium enterprises generated a total sales of PHP 2, 672, 994.00. The marketing activities were effective in promoting and bringing our local MSMEs and their products accessible to our local customers, tourists and institutional buyers. This also proves that local entrepreneurs and their products are more responsive to market demands.

DTI Samar also conducted a free entrepreneurship seminar which was participated by 51 livelihood beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The entrepreneurship seminar discussed topics on entrepreneurial mind-setting to help the participants in improving their operations and sustaining their livelihood.

With the DTI Negosyo Centers, the Department also put up an information booth where job seekers who are potential entrepreneurs can get free business counselling and information about DTI programs and projects. This is also an opportunity for entrepreneurs to easily access processing services for business name registration and assistance to entrepreneurial capacity development, product and packaging improvement, branding and marketing.

The Department moves toward spurring entrepreneurial revolution and encouraging the formalization and growth of our MSMEs through various business development initiatives.

DTI looks forward to working with partner government agencies in promoting competitiveness of local micro, small and medium enterprises in the domestic and foreign markets.♦

Date of release: 1 July 2019