CEBU CITY, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to invest on quality product packaging if it wants to lure in more buyers.
"Packaging is important to market a product effectively not only to locals but even to foreigners," said Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz, who was in Cebu last Wednesday to open the fifth One Town One Product (OTOP) Visayas Island Fair at the SM City Cebu which runs until Nov. 21.
Cruz said DTI intends to partner with the Department of Tourism in coming up with a strategy to make Filipino products more attractive to foreigners and locals.
According to her, the buying trend of Filipinos nowadays, especially among the middle and upper class income earners, has shifted to patronizing locally-made products more so since foreigners are also doing the same.
"Since they now see foreigners buying Filipino products, they too have come to appreciate the quality and innovative designs of our local produce," Cruz said.
"This is why," she pointed out, "the DTI is encouraging MSMEs to improve on their packaging, one that is more environment friendly. DTI hopes to educate small businesses to use environment-friendly raw materials, which is in tune with the global demand for eco-friendly practices."
Aside from improving on the packaging of products, Cruz said OTOP aims to make small and medium businesses appreciate the value of paying the right taxes.
Organizers of the trade fair hope that beyond promoting products to a bigger market, they can promote trade among the exhibitors.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas Director Asteria Caberte said the One Town One Product Visayas Island Fair (OVIF) also encourages MSMEs to link together in terms of sourcing raw materials.
For instance, in the case of footwear manufacturers in Carcar, Caberte noted that they are now sourcing their materials from other provinces that were also exhibited in previous OVIF shows, such as fabric from Bohol, abaca from Carmen town and other materials from Western and Eastern Visayas.
The fifth OVIF opened Saturday with 198 exhibitors across three regions of the Visayas. It will be open to the public until Sunday at the SM City Cebu.
The products range from processed food, fabric, fashion accessories, beauty products and delicacies from different provinces in the Visayas.
