By Alithea De Jesus
The Department of Trade and Industry – Resource Generation and Management Service (RGMS), in partnership with the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), the Knowledge Management and Information Service (KMIS), and the Regional Operations Group (ROG), will be staged on July 30, 2020, the very first Online Trade Fair for our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owned by persons with disability.
In line with the celebration of the 42nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week while observing Proclamation No. 922, the fair, entitled Biz-Ability Online Trade Fair, aims to give our persons with disability entrepreneurs the initial exposure and experience to sell their products online through well-known and big platforms amid the pandemic.
Initially, six (6) MSMEs are expected to participate in this online trade fair and more will be added as they complete the onboarding process. These MSMEs, assisted by the DTI Regional Offices, are either owned by a person with a disability or employ persons with disabilities in their business. Various products such as Fashion Accessories and wearable items e.g. bags, face masks; Food, e.g. ice cream, sherbet, coco sugar, tofu, etc. and; Gifts, Decor and Houseware, e.g., blankets, table runners, etc. will also be featured initially on Facebook.
Supporting our Filipino entrepreneurs, including Persons with Disabilities, is one of the core mandates of the Department’s Trade Promotion Group (TPG) hence, this partnership with the DTI-BDTP. “With the indefinite postponement of national trade events such as the National Food Fair and National Trade Fair due to the pandemic, the Department has transitioned to online events such as this Online Trade Fair for MSMEs with persons with disability to promote our Filipino entrepreneurs and their products,” said TPG Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman.
“We continue to give support to our persons with disability entrepreneurs in every way we can; the online trade fair we have developed especially for them shows that we acknowledge and value the hard work and dedication they put in creating their products/services; this online platform is critical for businesses to run smoothly during this pandemic and this is now being applied for our persons with disabilities entrepreneurs… together with Secretary Mon Lopez, I enjoin everyone to support this online trade fair showcasing the products/services of persons with disabilities,” said Assistant Secretary Ameenah A. Fajardo, DTI-Person With Disability Focal Person.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez added: “We wish all the success to the Online Trade Fair for MSMEs owned by persons with disability as it promotes inclusivity and empowerment for our differently-abled Filipino businesses. As we encourage small businesses to maximize the digital platform, we are glad to see that such entrepreneurs are able to show their creativity and resiliency through this event.”
“With the persons with disability community by our side as we continue to promote and train MSMEs to go into the e-commerce industry, we will be able to not only adjust to the “New Normal” but thrive in a ‘Better Normal’,” the trade chief said.
Biz-Ability will run from July 30 until August 12, 2020. To see what’s in store, you may head over to the BDTP’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DTI.BDTP.