GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/14 November)– The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 12 has launched a new branding strategy to enhance efforts to promote various products from the region.
Ibrahim Guiamadel, DTI Region 12 director, said Friday they have adopted the “Treasures of Region 12” as the collective brand for existing and new products developed by the area’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The new branding strategy was launched by the agency and MSMEs in the region with the opening on Thursday of the four-day regional trade fair at the atrium of the SM mall here.
“The objective of this is to enhance the promotion of our products, further expand their markets and increase their sales,” Guiamadel said.
The official said they are giving special attention on new products that were developed through interventions and support services of the agency.
The regional trade fair features 50 booths that showcase products and services of MSMEs in various industry clusters of Region 12.
Also known as Soccsksargen, the region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
The region’s priority MSME industry clusters are bamboo furniture, processed food, fish, coffee, cacao, coconuts, wearables and homestyles.
Among the featured products are the ready-to-drink calamansi juice from Banga, South Cotabato; dried mango pandan from Polomolok, South Cotabato; organic rice coffee from Maitum, Sarangani; coco sugar from Malapatan, Sarangani; and, designer bags made of T’nalak fabric cuts from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.
The MSME showcase also includes the preserved and processed food products of Mommy Juling’s based in Polomolok, South Cotabato; baked and processed products of the Trappistine Monastery also in Polomolok; and, processed fruits of Kablon Farms in Tupi, South Cotabato.
Aside from the trade fair and product display, DTI-12 launched side events as well as trainings and seminars for MSMEs and interested residents.
These include “Patok na Negosyo” techno trainings on making trendy beads, pinasugbo, special tamarind and sweet potato candies, siomai and veggie balls, and buko and pineapple pies.
The agency also launched packaged corporate giveaway collections featuring products from the region.
Each giveaway item, which was packaged in a designed basket, costs from P500 to P900.
“We’re promoting these to large companies, schools, government and private offices and other entities,” said Dorecita Delima, DTI Region 12 assistant director.
She said local entities may offer or give the packaged items as Christmas gifts or for other purposes to their personnel and clients. (MindaNews)
