CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Thirteen food enterprises from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental will bring local flavors to the 18th International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines from May 22 to 24, 2025, at the World Trade Center in Manila.
“The IFEX is a premier trade show of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through CITEM, the Center for International Trade Exhibition and Mission (CITEM), and is an annual event. This is an international event for our local products to be promoted for the international market,” said DTI Provincial Director Jesusa Abear.
She explained that IFEX connects local producers with international buyers through exhibitions, business-matching sessions, and discussions on market trends. The event attracts ‘Very Important Buyers’ from several countries, invited by the Philippine government to explore trade opportunities with Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Abear said participation in IFEX follows a structured process that includes mentoring, product improvement, regulatory compliance, and certification.
“We don’t just throw our local enterprises into international events immediately. We start grooming them from the ground up,” she said.
Abear added that after the MSMEs pass the coaching programs, they are gradually exposed to provincial trade fairs, followed by regional and national shows, until they are ready for international exhibitions like IFEX.
The 13 participating MSMEs include seven from Cagayan de Oro City, namely, Chitakas Food Corp. (Chino’s Deli), Hinam-is Delights Incorporated, Fire Star Dream Concoctions, Slers Industries Inc., Bestfriend Goodies, Seabeth Food Processing, and Bite Me Up Corporation. The other six enterprises are from Misamis Oriental, including Trunk to Gold Agribusiness Corporation, NorthMin Federation of Dairy Cooperative, Agay-ayan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, AM Noble Nature’s Blessing Marketing Inc., Sioan Gintong Araw Agriculture Cooperative, and SC Greengrocery and Food Processing.
These enterprises have met export requirements and will engage with both institutional and global buyers. Local and provincial government units are also supporting their participation.
Abear said the aim is not only exposure but long-term trade deals that can lead to increased production and employment.
“This is just the beginning. We continue mentoring those who have potential but are not yet ready, so they too can eventually go global. We make sure that there’s a new batch of MSMEs continuously groomed for international markets,” she said.
DTI advises entrepreneurs to visit Negosyo Centers for free business services, including mentoring, assessments, and training.
“You may be surprised by the opportunities available,” Abear said. “But it all starts with the entrepreneur’s willingness to be helped, to persevere, and to seize opportunities when they arise.”
Most of the exhibitors for this year’s IFEX have completed DTI’s development programs designed to prepare MSMEs for export markets (JAKA/PIA-10)
