LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Feb. 6 (PIA) – This year’s Agro-Industrial Trade Fair which features homegrown products officially opens in Laoag City as part of the 27th Pamulinawen Festival celebration, on February 2. 

Some 42 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) are participating in the trade fair to sell various products like home furniture and decorations, plants, food products, clothing, inabel or traditional Iloko woven fabric products, and other hand-made crafts.

Aside from MSMEs, one of the main highlights of the trade fair are the agriculture products like vegetables and fruits, sardines, dried fish, malunggay cookies, vinegar, basi or vinegar wine, rice and soy coffee, rice chips, and other snacks locally produced by farmers and fisherfolks from the city.

During the opening program, Mayor Michael Marcos Keon reiterated the local government’s support to the agriculture sector and assured that they will continue conducting support services for farmers like distribution of seedlings and farm machinery. 

“I’m very happy that we have such a strong agricultural system in the city because of our farmers and fisherfolks. The bedrock of the economy of Laoag City is agriculture, that is why we need to support the sector and highlight our agriculture outputs like we are doing here,” he said.

Everlina Menor, who is in her second year participating as an exhibitor, is hopeful that the trade fair will bring in more revenue and recognition for her plant business.

“We are happy that we were able to join in the trade fair again to sell our plants. We sell indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, flowers, herbs, and spices,” she said.

The trade fair will be open until Feb. 15. (JCR/MJTAB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)