The Department of Trade and Industry is targeting more than P1 billion in sales from national trade fairs this year as it expands government-led marketplaces designed to connect Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises with domestic and international buyers.
DTI Assistant Secretary Nyla Bautista said the target covers national trade fairs alone and excludes sales generated by regional events, reflecting the agency’s push to turn MSME promotion into actual commercial opportunities.
“This year, we are aiming even higher. We target over P1 billion in sales, and it’s only on the national level, excluding the regional trade fairs,” Bautista said at the opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Coconut Philippines Trade Fair 2026.
The target follows DTI’s expansion of national trade fairs from four to 13 beginning in 2025. Bautista said the expanded program supported more than 2,000 MSMEs and generated over P700 million in sales.
DTI expects the broader trade fair network to create more market opportunities for MSMEs across the Philippines’ 18 regions, particularly businesses seeking larger domestic buyers and export markets.
The five-day Coconut Philippines Trade Fair, held alongside National Coconut Week, brings together about 300 coconut vendors from across the country. Their products range from food and beverages and coconut sugar to furniture, wellness products, and cosmetics.
Bautista said the coconut industry remains an important economic driver, supporting about 2.8 million farmers nationwide.
The trade fairs are also being positioned as more than short-term retail events. DTI has set up a dedicated business lounge where institutional buyers can meet participating suppliers and explore longer-term commercial partnerships.
That approach could extend the economic impact of the fairs beyond sales generated during the events, while giving MSMEs a platform to secure repeat orders, distribution deals, and potential export opportunities.
DTI’s P1-billion target underscores the government’s effort to measure MSME support not simply by participation, but by the commercial opportunities and revenues generated from bringing small businesses closer to bigger markets.
