DTI sets packaging road show in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, May 1  -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will gather at least 300 small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in Eastern Visayas for the first ever packaging road show on May 3-4.

Dubbed “Pack! Pinas”, the road show aims to reach MSMEs in the region to show them the latest market trends and emerging opportunities in product enhancement, as well as packaging solutions.

The event will also gather 200 suppliers, company executives, government officials, and exhibitors for two days at the newly-opened Robinsons-owned Summit Hotel.

“This is a free event where MSMEs can learn the latest market trends and emerging opportunities in product enhancement, as well as packaging solutions. Likewise, visitors meet people who can assist them in designing, branding, and marketing their products,” said DTI 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Cynthia Nierras during the Labor Day commemoration program on Tuesday.

The Tacloban event for Visayas is the first of three road shows nationwide. The other venues are Cagayan de Oro (May 17) for Mindanao, and Carmona, Cavite (May 30) for Luzon.

MSMEs in Eastern Visayas are ready to move to the next step after the series of training on product development, branding, and labeling, said Nierras.

The DTI recognizes that MSMEs lacked access to affordable and well-designed packaging materials for their products. These barriers include the minimum order requirement of suppliers, proximity of suppliers to MSMEs in the regions, and the need for more players in the packaging industry, she added.

“In addition, MSMEs are not up-to-date with the latest trends in packaging, and may be hampered by the limited options available,” she said.

During the event, there will be a packaging suppliers trade fair featuring providers of product packaging of glass, metal, paper, plastic, wood, as well as packaging equipment and printers.

Also scheduled are seminars on product packaging basics, packaging for bigger and more sophisticated markets, high impact packaging for food products, high impact packaging for wearable and home-style products, branding and design, and packaging printing.

Aside from DTI, private sector partners will also share their expertise at the event. These are MGM Food and Commodities Corp., San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. (SMYPC), Fedrigoni Asia Ltd., and Norde Philippines. They will hold seminars during the Visayas and Mindanao legs.

Norde is also partnering with Laguna Food Processors Association to provide affordable high-quality digital printing services. SMYPC is exploring the idea of investing in generic mold canisters for MSMEs, and setting up a common-use digital printing facility. (SQM/PNA)