CEBU, Philippines — Local entrepreneurs saw higher sales during the recent Sinulog trade fair in Cebu City, the Department of Trade and Industry announced yesterday.
The trade fair, which gathered local traders from Cebu and other provinces, recorded a total of P10.29 million in sales, with the Sinulog Festival drawing more than two million visitors this year.
The DTI surpassed its P3-million sales target.
DTI provincial director Esperanza Melgar attributed the high sales to the higher number of exhibitors this year than last year.
Around 68 exhibitors joined the trade fair this year with product lines including gifts, decors, housewares, fashion accessories, processed food, and health and wellness products.
Aside from the high-foot traffic, Melgar noted the exhibit had also supported the market development needs of the many participating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which showcased their creatively made, top-of-the-line quality and affordable products to both foreign and local tourists.
The highlight of this year’s Sinulog trade fair was the participation of northern Cebu local government units (LGUs) hit by typhoon Yolanda in 2013: City of Bogo, and from the municipalities of Bantayan, Medellin, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Tabogon, Tabuelan and Tuburan.
The event has given the Yolanda victims the opportunity to promote their products and services, available raw materials and scenic tourism destinations.
Moreover, 30 exhibitors were from the processed food sector, two were beneficiaries of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs), while two MSMEs were from the agricultural sectors of cacao and coffee. There were 17 exhibitors coming from outside of Cebu (Agusan del Sur, Baguio City, Bacolod City, Bohol, Davao City, Dumaguete City, General Santos City, Negros Oriental, Palawan and Zamboanga City).
The trade fair was supposed to open from January 10-21 but was extended until the 27th due to high demand.
Now on its 16th year, Sinulog trade fair is organized annually by the DTI in cooperation with the Cebu City government, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SM City Cebu and Sinulog Foundation.