The 20th Orgullo Kan Bikol-Gayon Bicol Trade and Tourism Fair will open today at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall with Vice President Leni Robredo as the guest of honor.
The event presented by the OK Bikol Association Inc., the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Tourism will run until October 9.
Robredo, a former congresswoman of Camarines Sur, is the highest Bicolano government official of the country.
Other guests of honor are Undersecretaries Zenaida Maglaya of the DTI and Alma Rita Jimenez of the DOT.
In 1996 the DTI launched Orgullo Kan Bikol (Pride of Bicol), which displayed the region’s cottage industries and generated some P200 million in actual receipts, excluding business transactions signed after the show.
The expo is Bicol region’s vehicle for developing home-grown entrepreneurs, especially those who will join the Manila market for the first time.
A total of 108 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and seven institutional exhibitors take part in this year’s show.
The DTI helped producers developed world-class packaging for export-quality processed food products. The DTI also aids micro, small and medium enterprises develop their products under the guidance of local designers who teach them new designs.
OKB-Gayon Bicol is supported by the various provincial, city and municipal local government units which display their One Town, One Product specialties such as abaca products, home furnishings, fashion accessories, health and wellness concoctions, pili-based candies and novelty items.
The expo will feature processed food and beverage products which have been certified Halal by the Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines to make them more competitive in the global market.
The expo also promotes Bicol’s popular and new travel destinations. In recent years, Bicol recorded the highest tourist arrivals among all the regions due to its diverse natural attractions, festivals and accessibility from Manila and the Visayas.
With Albay province as gateway and anchor destination, the region has been clustered with the Almasor (Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon) Tourism Alliance and the Camarines Norte-Camarines Sur-Catanduanes (3C) Tourism Link.
Spicing up the four-day fair are performances by the CamSur Cultural Dancers, the All Star Band of Legazpi City, MAG Dancers of Iriga City, and surprise entertainment numbers and guest appearances from Bicolano artists and celebrities.