• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Total sales in this year’s edition of the Negros Trade Fair (NTF), which ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, have reached more than P47.6 million, as reported by the Association of Negros Producers (ANP).
“It was a resounding success,”
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday.
The ANP reported that the 36th NTF in 2022 had some P39 million in booth sales and bookings.
The provincial government’s Abanse Negrense booth sales also increased from P297,689 last year to P502,325.50 in 2023.
Most of the products sold were food, furniture and crafts, Lacson said.
With the theme “Amuma”, the 37th edition of NTF aims to provide a platform for micro, small and medium sized entrepreneurs to expand their markets, seize export opportunities, and engage in trade.
Products from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, which were derived from endemic materials and resources, were among those showcased in the trade fair.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who visited the trade fair, even promoted the products from insurgency affected areas of Himamaylan City to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Lacson challenged local producers to be persistent in their innovation, creativity and quest for excellence as he assured them of full support of the provincial government.
“We will have to come up with even better products for the next NTF,” he added.
The provincial government is assisting 204 micro enterprises from 31 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental. | GB
