DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 July) — Organizers of the Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) are going green this year.
MTE chair Ann Pamintuan said exhibitors from different parts of Mindanao are expected to promote eco-friendly products and tourist destinations.
Pamintuan, a world-renowned designer who hails from this city, said this year’s MTE, dubbed “Mindanao Trade Expo…Eco-ing Traditions,” will be held form Augusto 19 to 22 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Convention Hall.
At least 100 exhibitors have registered, 44 of them from Region 11 and 28 from this city alone, MTE records show.
“The trend for sustainable green products is the present requirement of the global market. If we are to widen our market reach, we have to make products that will meet the demand,” said Pamintuan.
Exhibitors are expected to showcase recycled materials turned into fashion items and perishable goods, furniture, fashion accessories, processed food and souvenir items.
Betty More, head of the MTE 2010 Participants, also added that many of the buyers abroad, particularly in European countries, are looking for eco-friendly products.
More, also executive of the women’s group Katakus, added that these products are the most in-demand among the foreign importers.
Katakus is a women-led non-government organization producing handmade paper and handicraft for export to European countries.
In the last 13 years, Paminutan said, MTE has recoded 1,705 exhibitors and 577 buyers and generated P703 million sales. It has also drawn 607 local and international buyers.
This year’s MTE will not just showcase environment-friendly products, but will also educate guests on how the indigenous sustainable raw materials of Mindanao can be turned into world-class creations, said Pamintuan.
“The consumers must also learn to patronize only green products and all of us will have our own share of preserving the environment,” Pamintuan stressed. (Keith Bacongco / MindaNews)
