THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to give exposure again to Mindanao’s best products by holding in General Santos City an island-wide trade fair.

Ibrahim K. Guiamadel, DTI-Central Mindanao regional director, said the agency is coordinating with the City Government and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council for the staging of the “Yamang Mindanao” 2007 edition.

Yamang Mindanao, which loosely translates to “riches of Mindanao,” was initially launched last year and earned nearly P40 million in cash and booked sales for the 128 food and handicraft producers who took part in the event.

Guimadel said they hope to replicate last year’s success where some 29 institutional buyers from Europe, United States, Manila and Cebu came in to scout for suppliers.

The tentative schedule for this year’s trade fair is set on June 29 to July 2.

Essentially, the trade fair, which will give buyers and producers a chance to interact, will feature products that have been identified through the One Town, One Product (Otop) system pushed by the government.

The Otop is patterned after a “One Village, One Product” project of the Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. Its success prompted other countries to adopt the project as a model in eradicating poverty, particularly in rural areas.

Aside from promoting products from the island, Guiamadel said the event would also showcase Central Mindanao’s tourism destinations through a tour in the region.

A fashion show highlighting the region’s indigenous fabrics, such as the famous T’nalak, would also be held in the duration of the event.

Information from: www.sunstar.com.ph

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