Trade and Industry Updates: Bohol

BOHOLANO DELICACIES FOR IFEX

by: Jess Bernasor

The Province of Bohol will be carving its name as a new source of ethnic food delicacies in the upcoming International Food Exhibition (IFEX) on May 16-18, 2008 to be held at the new SMEX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines. This was made possible thru the Partner Region Program (PRP) which was developed by the Center for International Trade, Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, to assist promising food enterprises gain wider access to domestic and international markets. Aside from the IFEX participation, the Boholano community in Manila and other parts of Luzon will now have the chance to savor the best of Boholano food products as these will soon be made available in some leading department stores and supermarkets. The establishment of potential market outlets will be spearheaded by the Boholano Processed Foods Business Association, Inc. or BOHOL ProFoods.

Under the program, select food companies from the identified region were given assistance in food packaging development/enhancement in order to make their product more competitive in both domestic and international markets. Trainings and seminars were likewise given to company owners in Good Manufacturing Practices, Brand Management, Process Cost Management, Package Design and Labeling, Marketing, Visual Merchandising and Negotiation Techniques to help them improve their production to meet quality standards and equip them with knowledge in negotiating better with both local and foreign buyers. The products, in their enhanced packaging and labels, will be showcased in a special setting during the exhibition.

For this year’s edition, the Central Visayas Region (covering Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor) had been identified as the Partner Region for IFEX 2008. The PRP program consisted of nine (9) months of preparation which started last September 2007 to May of 2008. One-on-One Consultancies and In-Plant Assessments were likewise provided by the PRP experts to these firms.

The PRP Team is composed of experts from the Center for International Trade, Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Department of Science and Technology-Packaging Research and Development Center (DOST-PRDC), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and San Miguel Packaging Products. Of the 48 prospective firms, only 3 from Cebu, 8 from Bohol, 4 from Negros and 3 from Siquijor were selected to participate under the program.

For the Province of Bohol, the following food enterprises were selected to join the IFEX 2008 with their identified best food product namely: BUCAREZ Food Processing Corp. (Peanut Kisses), BQ Breadbasket (Calamay and Ube Jam-retort pack), Jojie’s Bakeshop (Caycay), Bohol Quality Pastries (Tajada), Bohol Bee Farm (Mango Spread, Pesto, Tea ), Candabong RIC Multipurpose Cooperative (Ginger Powder), Tienda Boholana (Oatmeal Cookie w/ Mango Tidbits) and Tessie’s Sweets and Pastries (Broas).

Bohol DTI Provincial Director Maria Elena C. Arbon is confident that the Boholano food products would make it very well in the exhibition as all participating firms are well prepared and gearing up for the activity not to mention the support and patronage of the Boholanos who are now residing in that part of the archipelago. (ends)

posted by dtibohol @ 2:18 PM