Combining the reach and flexibility of digital market platforms with the excitement of a traditional physical event, the Department of Trade and Industry - Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) has conceptualized a year-long program of activities that would promote micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the food industry. This is the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair, which consists of virtual components such as the series of online events culminating in a physical food fair towards the end of the year.
To formally launch the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair, a virtual ceremony will be held on September 17 via the BDTP Facebook page. This will also mark the official opening of the National Food Fair Digital Mall hosted on UnionBank GlobalLinker, which will serve as the permanent e-commerce platform for food entrepreneurs from the country's 16 regions. For starters, 836 food products from 108 MSMEs will be showcased in the National Food Fair Digital Mall.
The official opening ceremony will be led by Director Marievic Bonoan of the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman of the DTI Trade Promotions Group, and Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona of the DTI Regional Operations Group. Representing UnionBank GlobalLinker at the event is Jose Paulo Soliman, Vice President, and SME Segments Head, Customer Experience Group. The event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the BDTP Facebook page on Friday, September 17, at 9:00 am.
The formal opening kicks off a 10-day program which will include business talks and webinars, cooking demos, a wine mixing show, product showcases, daily raffle draws, and many others. From September 17 to 26, the public can join the online events by signing up through Zoom or on Facebook.
The year-long 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair has been an ongoing series of activities, all geared to nurture and sustain food entrepreneurs by expanding their market presence. Some of the activities held earlier this year include:
• MSME Webinar Series to help the participants prepare for the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair and equip them with skills to hurdle new challenges in growing their business. The webinar series was conducted by the Philippine Trade Training Center via Zoom and Facebook Live last May 5 to 7, 2021, and reached 24,200 views on social media.
• Shopee hosted its Online National Food Fair last May, featuring thousands of products from MSME Stores and the Go Lokal Official Store.
• Last August, the Lazada Love Local 8.8 Sale included participating MSMEs from 13 regions nationwide and promoted Philippine cuisine with Livestream cooking demos from Chef Oliver John Gomez, through the Center for Culinary Arts.
• Meanwhile, Mayani.ph, a farm-to-table e-commerce platform is another venue for the Online National Food Fair, featuring fresh vegetables, fruits, and upland crops of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Contingent on community safety guidelines, a physical National Food Fair to be held in a mall setting is also part of the 2021 program, to bring back the hustle and bustle of face-to-face buying and selling. Participating exhibitors will offer a variety of food products, including processed food and beverages, fresh produce and organic products, fresh and dried seafood, cooked food, halal products, and cuisine, condiments and other cooking ingredients, dairy products, health and wellness products, food supplements, traditional cooking tools/equipment, food packaging materials and allied products, baskets and bayongs, labeling and food processing equipment, and even label and packaging design services.
The 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) and with support from the DTI-Regional Operations Group (ROG).
For more information about the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, please follow their social media accounts @BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You may also email bdtp@dti.gov.ph.
About Arabelle Jimenez.
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