DTI: Expand market share via innovation

CEBU, Philippines — Entrepreneurs are urged to improve the design of their products to expand their market that's seeing intense competition from imported products.

Demphna Naga, assistant secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry, said product designers need to level up in terms of packaging design.

"The market is really dependent on the quality of the design of the products," she said in an interview yesterday at the sidelines of the 2019 OTOP (One Town, One Product) National Design Conference in Cebu City.

Naga pointed out that entrepreneurs can only expand their market if they invest into innovating their product design.

The ongoing conference aims to capacitate local product designers on various learning areas to include design trends, packaging standards, labeling requirements, intellectual property, market trends and business outlook.

"Developing the packaging (of our products) will expand our market both in domestic and export," she said.

The conference also provides essential information for local designers that can be used to enhance the marketability of OTOP products, and provide a coordinated look and design direction in the areas of packaging, among others.

OTOP is DTI's priority stimulus program for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that enables localities and communities to determine, develop, support, and promote products or services rooted in its local culture and competitive advantage.

The program aims to help MSMEs come up with better products in the areas of quality, product development, design, standards compliance, marketability, production capability and brand development.

The so-called OTOP hubs were established in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor to help MSMEs market their products.

OTOP hubs are stores where micro and small enterprises (MSE) can display their products that have been given assistance by DTI.

The trade agency has established OTOP hubs in various areas in the country to provide MSEs the physical and online channels and market access platform where OTOP products are showcased on a daily basis. (FREEMAN)