ILOILO CITY (PIA6) – The annual trade fair of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo dubbed “Artesanias de Iloilo” will serve as a venue for local exhibitors to showcase their artistry and innovations through the different products they produced.

“This provincial fair has handheld creativity and has showcased the artistry and quality of Ilonggo products. It brought the participation of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) who transcended to making a product out of hobby or out of skills, necessities or of their entrepreneurial mindset,” DTI-Iloilo director Ma. Dinda R. Tamayo said during the opening of the fair on Oct. 11, 2023 at SM City Iloilo.

Tamayo, on the other hand, noted that the five-day activity with the theme “Sustainable and Creative Communities” would also provide different market opportunities for MSMEs to create in-demand productions and more innovative and creative ways of promoting local products, like incorporating digital components to brace for change, serving the new market segment of digital natives.

“Culmination siya sang tanan nga package of assistance namon where Artesanias now will showcase not only the products, but also the skills, the rawmaterials available sa aton, as well as how these MSMEs graduated to challenge the markets and present their products,” she said.

DTI-Iloilo stressed the importance of giving local MSMEs the venue to showcase their creativity, citing that the business sectors have “become our partners in boosting the economy, increating jobs and generating income for everybody.”

For the fourth edition of the trade fair, which will run until Oct. 15, DTI-Iloilo said that they are eyeing to generate up to P3.5 million sales, including book orders and under negotiations.

The participating local exhibitors for this year’s edition of Artesanias also increased to 98 from 80 MSMEs last year, according to Tamayo.

The local exhibitors also thanked DTI-Iloilo for consistently doing the event, giving them a platform to market their products to larger audiences.

For Akim Archie Rodyado of Rodson’s Woodcraft, he acknowledged the role of DTI in developing their products through various training, which helped them in producing quality crafts.

Alma Ebañes from Estancia, Iloilo also expressed her gratitude to DTI-Iloilo and other concerned agencies for giving her small business the opportunity to reach more potential clients.

“Madamo gid nga benepisyo ang mahatag kay dako gid ang bulig ya. Sa pwesto bi namon diri, wala kami sang ginabayad kay wala man kami sang ikasarang, so, dako gid ni nga bulig ang trade fair,” Ebañes said.

Meanwhile, some of the side events during the five-day fair include discussions on coffee, a latte art show, cake decorating demo, crafts demo with the local artisans, decorative pot painting, and a fashion show. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)