The Department of Trade and Industry Misamis Oriental Provincial Office celebrated its flagship trade promotion program with the successful staging of its 3rd edition over the weekend.
Dubbed MSME One Expo with the theme “Breaking Down Borders and Expanding reach from MisOr to the World” , it was held on July 5-7, 2024 at the Activity Center, Centrio Ayala Mall, featuring 47 exhibitors, 30 booths, and 10 industrial partners and sponsors.
Day 1 Expert-lead learning session (DTI MisOr)
“Now in its third year, our annual trade show began in 2022 with a vision to creatively and uniquely showcases the products and services of MSMEs in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental to the world,” said Jesusa M. Abear, OIC/Provincial Director, Misamis Oriental, during the launching program on July 5.
“Many of these businesses have flourished through our business mentoring and coaching programs, and we are proud to highlight their achievements through this expo, which also underscores the strategic positioning of our city…vibrant, contemporary, and modern… Urban Lifestyle. We have aligned our themes with the Colors of the Year-Very Perry, Viva Magenta, and now Peach Fuzz-symbolizing our ongoing evolution and progress.”
MSME ONE EXPO 2024
The 3-day program featured a diverse array of booths, special sections dedicated to logistics and e-commerce solutions, expert-led learning sessions, business matching sessions, and networking mixers.
“These activities are designed to promote MSMEs and facilitate valuable connections, as well as provide insights and practical knowledge that will help our entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of logistics, supply chain management, digital marketing, and e-commerce strategies,” Abear said.
MSME One Expo 2024 in full swing (DTI MisOr)
Initially, the program started with “Bridging MSMEs towards the Future,” followed by “Tradition Meets Technology,” which showcased the province’s creative sector. With “Breaking Down Borders and Expanding Reach,” this year’s program focused on logistics and e-commerce, encapsulating the vision to empower local MSMEs to transcend geographical limitations and access global markets.
“Recognizing the critical role of logistics and e-commerce, we aim to demonstrate how our entrepreneurs can leverage these sectors to expand their market reach,” Abear stressed further.
CDO Bloggers covering the launch (OBM by JME)
DTI have supported Misamis Oriental’s MSMEs in expanding their markets nationally and internationally through events such as IFEX, Manila Fame, GulFood, and National Trade Fairs, hence the focus on helping MSMEs upscale and enhance their products to meet global standards.
Almer R. Masillones, OIC/assistant regional director who was previously Misamis Oriental’s provincial director, recalls how the idea behind MSME ONE EXPO stemmed from the desire to provide market assistance to MSMEs which have completed the Enhanced Business Learning Session (EBLS) in Cagayan de Oro City and the Modularized Business Learning Session (MBLS) in Misamis Oriental.
Locally made bread & pastries ready for the world market (OBM by JME)
“Both EBLS and MBLS are mentorship programs that are being uniquely implemented by DTI Misamis Oriental only,” she said.
Masillones said such initiatives exemplify DTI’s commitment to provide continuous support to MSMEs as the backbone of the Philippine economy.
DTI assisted MSMEs levelling up for the world market (OBM by JME)
“We have a number of programs and activities designed to address the various needs of the MSMEs, ensuring that we provide them with the necessary resource to help them succeed in every step of their entrepreneurial journey,” she emphasized.
These efforts are in line with DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual’s first strategic priority to upgrade and upsize MSMEs, and the administration’s commitment to bolster the socioeconomic agenda in the Philippines.
One of the 30 booths featured in MSME One Expo 2024 (OBM by JME)
Consistent to DTI’s goal of Angat Negosyo, Asenso, Trabaho, the agency aims to create more high-quality jobs by building a robust domestic market and enabling local businesses to become globally competitive.
Aside from the product and service exhibits and learning sessions in the MSME ONE EXPO, DTI also have trainings and seminars to onboard MSMEs to e-commerce through its Negosyo Centers, and the Kapatid Mentor Me Program, DTI’s mentoring and coaching program, with one module focusing on Digitalization.
Some booths featured multiple MSMEs such as FOPANORMIN (OBM by JME)
“We have already witnessed a number of local businesses break into the global market with e-commerce, and we’re excited to see the story of even one participating MSME in this expo become one of them,” Masillones noted.
MSME Expo One was supported by the following event partners: CDO-Misamis Oriental Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council; Ayala Malls Centrio; PLDT-Smart-Maya; Tiktok; Grab; AllHome, Apollo Home Depot, Airspeed, Skunk Works, and Oro Integrated Cooperative.
