DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Negros Oriental is encouraging the public to support and patronize local products that will be on sale during the seven-day trade expo organized by DTI at Robinsons Place Dumaguete starting July 1.

DTI will be holding a trade expo dubbed “Experience: 6200 Pop Up Creatives Fair x Negros Oriental Trade Expo” from July 1 to 7, 2022 as part of their interventions to help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) recover from the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the business sector.

“I would like to invite everybody to come visit the Experience. There you’ll get to know what products are available in Negros Oriental and what are the emerging products nga naimbento (that were invented) during the pandemic. We do have a lot of new products nga ni-emerge out of the pandemic. Please do appreciate, not just by looking but getting out your wallet and buying some,” said DTI Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio in a Kapihan sa PIA forum to promote the upcoming event.

“They are not just products that can be displayed sa inyong balay (in your house). They are functional and you can use them and at the same time, they are aesthetically pleasing. So please do buy local. We are all in this together. We are still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and our MSMEs are just starting to bounce back,” she added.

Virtucio explained that holding trade fairs and expos is part of their marketing assistance strategies for MSMEs.

However, it was suspended for two years due to the pandemic.

The trade expo will feature 34 exhibitors composed of MSMEs in the province’s food sector, home and wearables sectors, and MSME mentees under DTI’s Kapatid Mentor Me Program and also some creative individuals selling their artworks. 

DTI Trade Promo Officer and Program Manager Anton Gabila said the trade expo would also have lectures and couch sessions to highlight the province’s creative sector and food industry.  

“We will also be discussing here digitalization opportunities. Each day, we will feature a sub-sector on creative industry and processed food,” Gabila said.

Some of the topics to be covered during the trade expo include street photography workshop, basics on digital arts, Barista 101, modern visual arts, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Negros Oriental Creative Sector Representative Ian Casocot lauded DTI for including creatives and artists in this trade expo.

“Many of our creative entrepreneurs have lost their footing during the pandemic. I guess this particular program will help them again to try to look for their footing and succeed in the future,” Casocot said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)