The annual regional Sandugo trade expo, now on its 10th year, attracted more exhibitors and thus expecting to record higher sales than last year’s around P10 million.
Around 100 exhibitors from Cebu, Bohol, and Mindanao participate in the weeklong Sandugo Trade Expo that reeled off yesterday.
DTI-7 Regional Director Aster Caberte said the trade expo showcases locally made products such as food items, furniture, fashion products, wall decors, house decors, jewelry, guitars, wellness products, handicrafts, and other items made from indigenous materials.
Exhibits of furniture are the latest addition this year.
Products from Bohol include loom-weaved products from Tubigon, Clarin and Inabanga towns.
In her message during the opening ceremonies, DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya noted that the Sandugo Trade Expo has already expanded in participation from entrepreneurs from Mindanao.
Maglaya the reason why it’s getting bigger, that it’s having a problem in space now, is because the exhibitors are earning through the trade expo.
The DTI undersecretary also noted the presence of DOT-7 Regional Montecillo.
She said trade events are important events for marketing products.
But now, not only should the organizers look at trade events, but are also on retail trades.
Maglaya said they realized that tourists go to retail stores, and they shop where they come on which she supposed the DOT-7 regional director agrees.
On this, Maglaya reminded stakeholders that malls, and shopping centers should also be taken care of and make sure that the products being showcase are the best in the country.
She also cited that the retail market is a multi-billion-dollar industry worldwide and it has been growing by 12 percent in the past few years.
Entrepreneurs have to take advantage and make use of the Sandugo trade expo, an event that a lot of people look forward to every year in Bohol.
And for Bohol, it’s an event that brings in business, wholesalers and with more products it has been extended from a five-day activity to a weeklong event.
Maglaya said it has been observed now that a lot of activities are conducted to capacitate the small and medium entrepreneurs and to have more time for buyers.
With more days allotted to the event, consumers have more opportunities to check out the products during the event, she said. (By Angeline Valencia)