THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Oriental has conducted a number of product development initiatives for the first semester of this year in a bid to widen the market reach of local entrepreneurs.
DTI-Davao Oriental provincial director Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi said that the activities were really geared toward the improvement of existing local products and creation of new ones.
“One of the priorities of DTI-Davao Oriental is product development. In fact, during the second quarter of this year alone, our Business Development Unit has already conducted 12 product development clinics and sessions,” she said.
The product development activities, Ambi said, were for the improvement of the labeling and packaging of food products. These even facilitated the upgrading and introduction of new designs and additional components for the existing products, she added.
The product development initiatives resulted to the improvement of labels and packaging of at least 12 local products such as pinyato (peanut brittle), salted and coated peanut products, sago flour, tablea (chocolate tablet), among others; introduction of knotted fiber, hand-made paper, coco sugar, coco honey, and coco candy; and utilization of wood components in bags, coco novelties with abaca twines, new bayong designs, and various shapes for tablea.
Ambi said that with improved products, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will be more prepared to deal with the market.
“We have to continuously improve our products so that we can be competitive in the market. We always have to find ways on how to meet the requirements of the market,” Ambi said.
The office has lined up more trainings to be conducted during the second semester of the year. (DTI11/Jenny Molbog-Mendoza)
