• CHERYL G. CRUZ
More than 30 small and medium entrepreneurs from across the Negros Island Region are joining the weeklong Coconut Philippines Trade Fair-NIR at SM City Bacolod North Block, with the opening ceremony at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Oct. 12.
“This is a celebration of the creativity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit of our cocopreneurs, coconut farmers, and coconut-based enterprises, on the theme “Nurturing Resilience and Innovation,” Department of Trade and Industry Negros Occidental provincial director Lynna Joy Cardinal said.
This trade fair shines a spotlight on the hardworking coconut farmers, who cultivate the foundation of the industry; the passionate cocopreneurs, who transform ideas into innovative products; and the thriving coconut-based enterprises that turn the many potentials of coconut into quality products and promising business opportunities, Cardinal said.
Every product tells a story — of the farmers’ hard work, the entrepreneurs’ bold ideas, enterprises’ determination, and communities working together toward a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive coconut industry, she added.
Of the exhibitors, 22 SMEs are based in Negros Occidental, 11 from Negros Oriental, and three from Siquijor.
“This is more than a trade fair,” Cardinal said. “It is a celebration of Filipino ingenuity, a platform for local enterprise development, and a testament to the limitless potential of the coconut industry.”
After the opening of the trade fair this afternoon, there will be a coco musical tomorrow, the Philippine Coconut Authority Day on Wednesday, and a coconut gastronomy on Thursday, all starting at 2 p.m. The closing and awarding ceremony will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18.
“Discover an impressive array of coconut-based products that reflect the ingenuity of our local entrepreneurs, the resourcefulness of our communities, and the commitment to quality that makes the Negros Island Region’s coconut industry truly remarkable,” Cardinal said as she invites the public to the trade fair. | CGC
