Products to be sold Aug 19-22 at PH Center lobby in SF
THE Department of Trade and Industry, led by Region 4A Regional Director Marilou Toledo, Region 4A Senior Trade & Industry Development Specialist Laura Japaraplasan and Trade Commissioner Jose Ma. Dinsay, assisted small- and medium-sized Philippine companies test the saleability of their products in the US market via participation in the recent Pistahan sa Yerba Buena and a Business Matching event in the Philippine Center Lobby. Both events took place in the downtown area of San Francisco.
A total of 11 companies, almost all representing the Calabarzon export processing zone in southern Luzon, presented their products to Pistahan attendees, as well as the distributors, wholesalers and retailers at the business matching event. The products range from food items, to wearables, to home décor/handicrafts, and health & wellness offerings.
The participants included Joel and Marissa Lourdes Yala of Choco Vron Global Corporation, Chelsea Aira Coligao of Ai-She Footwear, Ricarose Anne Nepomuceno of Silver Handicrafts, Violeta Saligumba of DVAS Enterprises, Clarke S. Nebrao of Makiling Organics, Maria Leila Corcuera of Zenaida Corcuera Food Products, Elvira Moneda of Jhaz Footwear, Perla Escaba of Escaba Food Poducts, Immanuel Cauntay of La Carlota Foods, Sheril Quintana of Oryspa Spa Soliutions and Amabel Frias of Amarich Marketing International.
The business matching event also featured an informal talk/discussion headed by Lennie Di Carlo of XRoads LLS who gave the Philippine company owners/representatives an idea about setting up a company in the US, as well as tips on marketing their products, finding their niche market, developing their price point and establishing/keeping leads for their business.
According to Regional Director Marilou Toledo, the products of the companies in this batch of participants are ready for the US market as they have passed the standards set by the US Food and Drug Administration.
“The primary purpose of this trip is to market-test the products of small and medium Philippine enterprises here in the US,” Toledo explained to Asian Journal. “And the best entry way is to test-sell to Filipino Americans, see if there is a market for their products, and get feedback from consumers.”
The public will get a chance to purchase items from these manufacturers as DTI officials are arranging a product showcase and selling fair on August 19-22 at the Philippine Center Lobby at 447 Sutter Street in San Francisco. Interested buyers will be able to purchase food items like coffee, banana chips, coffee, turmeric tea, lemongrass tea, as well as fashion accessories, footwear, rice bran-based beauty products and other items produced by these firms.
Toledo revealed to Asian Journal that it is through the innovation and hard work of the DTI that many small and medium enterprises in the Philippines are being exposed to the global market.
Similar to the assistance provided by the Small Business Administration here in the US to small business owners, the DTI’s regional offices assist small and medium enterprises in the Philippines by providing technical assistance via its Small & Medium Enterprise Roving Academy (a capacity and capability building program), by participation in events throughout the year (including the upcoming Kalakal Calabarzon trade fair at the Festival Mall in Alabang on September 24-30), and by partnering and providing the companies with needed equipment or facilities to enhance their products (such as a shared service facility provided by the DTI).
The DTI has also, through a program funded by USAID, launched pilot programs in a city each in Luzon (Batangas City), Visayas (Iloilo City) and Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro City) to help streamline the process for both would-be and current business owners.
“People will not need to face a battery of personnel when trying to get permits or secure licenses,” Toledo said. “They will only need to face one to two persons; the other steps will be done in the backroom. This will reduce red tape and ‘lagay’ (bribe).”
Aside from streamlining the process, the DTI plans to put up business centers in local areas to assist businesspeople with their needs.
Batangas City, which is the pilot area for the business center, has already provided a building for the DTI, which the department will furnish and enhance. Once the business center opens (slated for September 2014), small to medium business owners will be able to use the facilities, including a negotiating table and conference room.
“This is part of the nuturing system we are developing at the DTI. We want them to know that may kasangga na sila,” said Toledo, while adding that the plan is to put up “Go Negosyo Centers” in all cities and municipalities so that potential business owners have the information at their fingertips and do not have to go to the capital to secure permits or get the data they want.
Assessing the Pistahan and the business matching events, Toledo is confident that there is, indeed, a market for Filipino products from small and medium enterprises based in the Philippines.
“There is a big potential for SME products in the US,” she said. “The quality of these products are good. We can compete with the quality of the goods from other countries who are exporting to the US. We are happy with the results we have gotten so far and we plan to be back in the Pistahan next year.”
(www.asianjournal.com)
(SF August 15, 2014 Sec. A pg.1)
