Participants of the 25th Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair last October 25-29 2023 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City earned a total of ₱64.86 Million in sales. The figure is 13% more than last year’s sales of ₱57.049 Million.
The annual trade fair was participated in by 165 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the region. Participating MSMEs exhibited products such as processed food, furniture and home furnishings, wearables, gifts and holiday decors, and other organic and cosmetic products.
Majority of the sales come from booked orders amounting to ₱43.95 Million. Cash sales generated were at ₱8.87 Million while another ₱12.02 Million are from sales under negotiation.
Based on reports from SME Development Division of the DTI Regional Office 3, Bataan generated the highest sales among the seven provinces with about ₱24.61 M. It is followed by Pampanga – ₱10.57 M; Tarlac – ̈́₱10.49 M; Nueva Ecija – ₱7.1 M; Bulacan – ₱6.6 M; Aurora – ₱2.7 M and Zambales – ₱2.5 M.
“The remarkable sales achieved during this Likha underscore the economic impact and potential of our micro, small, and medium enterprises.,” DTI-3 OIC Regional Director Brigida T. Pili said. She extended her gratitude to those who visited the fair and supported the MSMEs.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dynamic entrepreneurs, dedicated partners, and our supportive community for contributing to the triumphant success of the 25th Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair,” she continued.
The trade fair was organized by the DTI-Regional and Provincial Offices in Central Luzon in partnership with Philexport-3, Regional Development Council-3, SM Supermalls, SOMAGO, and Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc. (CLGCFI), which is composed of the 7 governors of the region with DTI as member. It served as a culminating activity of industry and trade related programs given to entrepreneurs in Region 3. Capability building seminars were conducted before the fair to develop the technical capabilities of the micro and small and medium enterprises especially in terms of negotiating with buyers and how to effectively dress their booths. Product development activities were also done to come up with new designs and products that were showcased during the 5-day fair.
