DTI helps Central Luzon MSMEs surpass sales target, generate P58.49M at Likha fair

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Central Luzon expanded their reach and forged valuable business partnerships as 151 entrepreneurs brought their products to Metro Manila for the 28th Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair, generating P58,491,489.35 in sales.

Held from September 23 to 27 at Megatrade Hall 2 in SM Megamall, the five-day trade fair surpassed its P38-million sales target by 53.55%. The final earnings comprised P22.6 million in direct cash sales, P26.64 million in booked orders, and P9.2 million in pending negotiations.

This performance also edged past last year’s figure of P57.85 million by about P500,000, or 0.86%.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Group Leonila Baluyut said that the value of trade fairs such as Likha goes beyond immediate sales by giving provincial entrepreneurs direct access to larger markets and potential long-term buyers.

“We put a premium on sustainability of the market,” Baluyut said, noting that steady, long-term orders allow MSMEs to scale up production, hire local staff and create economic opportunities in their communities.

To help businesses maximize these opportunities, DTI equips participating MSMEs with support in product development, design improvement, cost management and buyer negotiation, while linking them with institutional buyers and potential exporters.

Bringing Central Luzon products to Metro Manila also gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to test their competitiveness and receive direct market feedback. DTI Region III Regional Director Edna Dizon said the fair connects enterprises with domestic and international institutional buyers while encouraging them to refine their products based on market response.

This market-readiness push is anchored on the fair’s theme, “Products Reimagined, Made for the World.” DTI also assists MSMEs in navigating export requirements and connects them with established exporters who can guide them on international shipping, trade terms and client negotiations.

The fair’s transformative impact is evident among its participants.

Cley’s Food Products CEO Mia Velasco Reyes of Orani, Bataan, started selling online in 2015 after a customer asked about local products suitable for the Manila market. Drawing on Orani’s abundant seafood, she developed flagship products like bottled crab paste.

Support from DTI initiatives, such as the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program, helped Reyes expand into physical trade events, including Likha, where she has been able to reach more customers.

For young entrepreneur Annika Pascual of Tarlac-based Anikka’s Handy Crafts, a pandemic-era craft project grew into a business as online interest increased for her customized hanging decor.

Now in her fifth year at Likha, Pascual shared that Likha has provided not only additional income but also mentorship, ideas and inspiration from fellow entrepreneurs.

Similarly, Tarlac-based WoodInspirations Crafts has made Likha a cornerstone of its growth strategy since 2003. What started as a parents’ woodworking hobby in 2002 has grown into a 10-person enterprise.

Marketing and product development officer Maiko Pascual credited the annual trade show with helping the business secure repeat clients, export channels, institutional partners and promotional collaborators.

These success stories show how strategic market access can help provincial MSMEs transcend geographic boundaries, refine their products, build industry networks and scale up their operations.

Organized by DTI Region III in partnership with PhilExport Region III, the Regional Development Council Region III, SM Supermalls and the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc., the Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair connects enterprises from the region’s seven provinces with markets across the Philippines and beyond. END