Sandugo trade expo exceeds

DTI target, sales reach P22M

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 26, (PIA) –Still claiming a reputation for one of the region’s best in products selling, the 2023 Sandugo Trade Expo which closed after 5-day selling reached 157% over its target sales, including those under negotiations.

The boost which Bohol’s micro-small medium enterprises need came just in time when right at the reopening of the trade fair, also presented to a Boholano furniture manufacturer the honor to be hailed as best in sales with over P5M take home after the 5 days of expo.

Suyman Furniture Shop actually racked in P5,066,950.00 in sales, their world class furniture done in superb carpentry skills, now pinning Bohol in the international map for furniture makers.

Set up by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol as a post pandemic venue for local handicraft manufacturers and food processors including exhibitors from across the country’s 25 provinces to showcase their best products, the 2023 Sandugo Trade Expo picked up from where it left off three years ago when the national products fair claiming its home in Bohol, has to be discontinued due to the risks of the pandemic.

Starting off as a 5-booth exhibit in the late 80s, then Sandugo Provincial Products Showcase which took the Plaza Rizal and the old Capitol grounds as its venue, soon presented the best of the best locally made products in Bohol to the region, when it opened as a regional products fair, still here in Bohol.

This also afforded local manufacturers and craftsmen a place to showcase their handcrafted products enhanced by the Department of Trade and Industry’s products development and design training, and for domestic and international buyers to see the emerging trends in home furnishings, home decors, wearables, furniture, bags, baskets, gift items and toys, wellness products and processed food.

Since its inception, the Sandugo Trade Expo has consistently carved its own niche in leading the trends in design and engaging sales and marketing matches, thereby attracting other buyers from the domestic and international markets.

According to the DTI in Bohol, their biggest record was when the Trade expo sales reports P41 M in cash and booked sales, on the year before the crafts showcase has to be sidelined for the threat of the pandemic.

Now picking up what it left three years ago, DTI, sensing a high level of maturity of the local partnership with the private sector, offered the management of the expo to Island City Mall management, even as it hoped to rack in P15M in target sales.

Four days into the trade expo, DTI Bohol Officer in Charge Vierna Teresa Ligan has already reported cash sales of P15,051,553.29, with booked sales also reaching P7,199.784.00.

As of P10 PM of July 23, the DTI has also gathered reports of P4,241.347.00 potential sales as these are still under manufacturers-buyer negotiations.

Aside from Suyman Furniture Shop, the inlaid art of Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage was another hot selling item under the Gifts, Decors and Fashion, with P2,487.500 in sales after the 5-day expo.

As to processed food, Davai Region Coconut Farmers Industry Development Program exhibitors went home with nearly a million in sales, and probably more under negotiations. The team from Davao went home bringing P812,198 in sales.

For this year’s most innovative product, it went to Mamasdamideli Empresas of Romblon, featuring mortar and pestle with holder.

This year’s green product award also went to Palawan’s Palawentas Native Handicrafts with their seed man.

With the DTI now turning over the management of the trade expo to its partner private sector in organizing and fully operating the region’s largest and biggest trade show in the Sandugo Trade Expo, their next role would be focused on coordination activities, market promotion and monitoring after fair sales, according to Ligan. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

CALAMAY IN A TIN TUB. From its spoke-shaved coconut shell container, the iconic Jagna calamay has also gone into clear plastic tubs , which accordingly does not well help improve the shelf life of the product. Now with the tin tub, manufacturers or the calamaderas of Jagna hope they can further extend the shelf life of the sticky bread spread to allow more people to taste it. (PIA-7/Bohol)