Mindanao to showcase competitive products in trade exhibit on July 15-17 in General Santos City

A special trade exhibit by entrepreneurs in Mindanao will be held on July 15-17 in General Santos City to vitaminize the economy of southern Philippines, home to over 5 million Muslims, officials said.

Trade and industry director Ibrahim Guiamadel for central Mindanao said they will show the best local products that they have here in Mindanao which are for both domestic and foreign markets.

The three-day exhibit dubbed “Yamang Mindanao” (Mindanao’s Riches) will showcase the southern island’s best products, numbering about 100. Among products that will be showcased are those made out of woven fabric called "T'nalak" which is the flagship product of Lake Sebu town; Cotabato City's crabs, which are sourced the famed Rio Grande River; General Santos's tuna; and North Cotabato's fresh fruits and rice-based delicacies.

Guiamadel said the majority of the products to be displayed "are those that are from the local government units, particularly the 'One Town, One Product' program."

The program, being implemented through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), encourages the country's micro, small and medium enterprises to produce and market distinct products or services using indigenous raw materials and manpower.

Through this program, local chief executives of every city and municipality take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service, which has a competitive advantage.

Patterned after Japan's One Village One Product project, One Town One Product has already been established by neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malawi, Cambodia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

It was found to be effective tool of poverty alleviation particularly in the rural areas.

Guiamadel said that local and foreign buyers will flock to the three-day trade fair, including a delegation from Europe and the nearby states of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

A business matching activity between local entrepreneurs and some 50 Brunei, Indonesian and Malaysian investors have also been arranged.

"We are capitalizing on this event to establish trade linkages or business matching between Mindanao producers and buyers from other countries," said Dorecita Delima, assistant regional trade director.

She said that if the exhibit succeeds in wooing foreign buyers to place orders of local products "it will greatly boost the economy of Mindanao and benefit the grassroots people who till the pineapple plantations, grow bananas, mangoes etc, and weave the T'nalak fabrics."
Guiamadel agreed that the exhibit will benefit enterprises classified as micro, small and medium, which in turn will be of help to the village folks who are being employed by the entrepreneurs.

"What's good about this is that it is these small people whom we help because it is them who are the backbone of the One Town, One Product program."

Sultan Kudarat province will showcase its fresh and processed banana, mango and durian as well as fresh and processed milkfish, tilapia and carp and virgin coconut oil.

South Cotabato province will display fresh and processed passion fruit, pineapple and guyabano, processed guava, Philippine lemon, jellies and juice concentrate, processed banana, mango, organic rice, corn chips and gold jewelry.

Mindanao's economy seems to be on the right track as its 2005 performance show that investments jumped to 260 percent for the first half of 2005.

Records of the Board of Investments show that investments valued at Php1.66 billion (P53=US$1) were brought into Mindanao from January to June of 2005, more than doubling 2004 figures of Php0.46 billion in the same period last year.

Foreign equity investments in Mindanao for the first half of 2005 accounted for 54 percent share of the total investments at Php892 million, 68 times greater than 2004's Php13 million. (PRESS RELEASE/DTI)