Smalltimers meet bigwigs in "Red Christmas Bazaar"

Small time entrepreneurs as well as farmers of Cebu’s fifth district are given the opportunity to meet big companies and exporters through the district-wide “Red Christmas Bazaar 2008.”

Representative Ramon "Red" Durano VI said unlike other trade fairs, the "Red Christmas Bazaar 2008," is a fair trade marketing and product development for cooperatives, small community, SMEs, home-based and startup companies.

“Unlike other trade fairs that primarily draw buyers, this campaign is specifically designed to attract big companies, exporters, and even retail chain to link with the small-time suppliers from the district,” Durano said.

 The first district-wide trade fair, which is set to open on December 18 to 21 (2008), aims to help more than 50 producers and entrepreneurs from different industries such as food, drinks, jewelry and fashion accessories, handicrafts, furniture, house furnishing and decorations, steel and metal crafts, stone crafts, garments, handguns, pottery, shell crafts, books and paper products, health and beauty products, vehicle equipment, footwear, and other novelty items.

"Through this event, we can assist these small time businesses to showcase and market their products and services in one area and help augment their income from regular livelihood," Durano said.

He said there are a lot of potential products, and even agricultural produce in the towns within the district that can be used as raw materials for exporters in Cebu, but these startup entrepreneurs should be given access to the greater market via direct linkages.

Aside from providing the database of big companies, especially exporters and retail chains, DTI has also vowed to help micro-entrepreneurs in product development and business management through seminars and trainings, Durano added.

With the difficult financial state nowadays, Durano said there is a need for the government to further encourage entrepreneurship, especially to the day-to-day earners, farmers, and fishermen.

Durano mentioned that an organized Farmers Federation in his district for instance, is now producing organic fertilizer, and this need to be promoted well, not only in the domestic market but also abroad.

"We found out that there are many small businesses that have huge potential to grow but desperately needing help. A proper venue to match them with the big companies is a good start," he stressed.

Cebu's export sector is now shifting its thrust to source out indigenous materials within the Cebu and neighboring provinces, instead of dealing with one or two sub-contractor.

Cebu Gifts, Toys and Houseware Exporters (Cebu-GTH) former president Jenifer Cruz said that direct-sourcing from the town folks is a good cost cutting measure for the export players who have been badly affected by the global economic slowdown.

According to Durano, his office is determined to make the event an annual activity to discover more entrepreneurs within the district.

 Cebu fifth district in the northern part is composed of the towns of Aloguinsan, Borbon, Pila, Tudela, Carmen, Liloan, Poro, Sogod, San Francisco, Compostela and Danao City.