TRADE AND COMMERCE

17TH Annual Negros Trade Fair Ribbon - Cutting and Opening Ceremonies - 30 September 2004, Makati City

ISA KA MAINUSWAGON KAG MAHAMONGAYA ON NGA ADLAW SA INYO TANAN.

ASSOCIATION OF NEGROS PRODUCERS (ANP) PRESIDENT MS. CRISTINA MARIE GASTON AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 17TH NEGROS TRADE FAIR COMMITTEE CHAIR MILAGROS COOPER AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, EVENT MANAGERS, EXHIBITORS AND PARTICIPANTS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.

Firstly, I congratulate the ASSOCIATION OF NEGROS PRODUCERS (ANp) FOR HOLDING THE 17TH NEGROS TRADE FAIR THIS YEAR. ThE ANp successfully HOLDS THIS LIFESTYLE TRADE SHOW EVERY YEAR with INCREASINGLY MORE VISITORS every time. there is therefore every reason to expect that this Fair will also be a success.

YOU probably already know this but just the same, let me CITE the immense contributions that the negros annual trade fair brings to enterprise development. a TRENDSETTER which facilitates the entry of local entrepreneurs in the mainstream market, it developS new market opportunities for local manufacturers. THE TRADE FAIR MAINTAINS ITS RECORD OF EXCELLENCE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP AMONG REGIONAL SHOWS IN THE COUNTRY, BRINGING AN AVERAGE OF 17,135 WALK-INS DAILY AND AN AVERAGE OF 13.85 MILLION PESOS IN domestic sales and export orders yearly. some of these exhibitors’ output have in fact been introduced to THE discriminating export markets of new york, italy and even cosmopolitan shanghai, china.

It heartens me to see that by ITS very existence, THE ANp is able to share in PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO’S GOAL OF proviDING livelihood OPPORTU-NITIES. in the government’s ten-point agenda and the medium term philippine development plan (mtpdp) 2005-2010, President Arroyo HAS put THE Creation of jobs through the promotion of entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprise development at the forefront.

To achieve this GOAL in a globalized economy, we must conStANTLY be aware of, and BE ABLE TO address, the many challenges which our ENTERPRISES are facing. challenges such as stiff global competition, limited access to technology AND financing, and the high cost of doing businesS… for THESE ENTERPRISES are the main dynamic force in our economY'S production and employmenT WITH THE HOPE OF ULTIMATELY MAKING these benefits FELT EVEN IN the countryside.

Our main challenge TODAY is to create new growth in the form of new enterprises. these will in turn be a significant part of future value added and CREATE JOBS. Job creation is tied to investment activity, especially in export-oriented industries geared towards a larger market. The ability of enterprises to compete in international markets will thus be of vital importance. In order to stay competitive, philippine exports have to be more flexible and more able to adapt to the rapid changes in the market as countries continually strive to improve their productivity and competitiveness. In this context, innovation is very important.

Product development is also fundamental to the competitive-ness of existing enterprises, and even more so, to the creation of new enterprises. If more enterprises are created, more enterprises will survive, and the prospects will be better for more job creation in the future.

The importance of entrepreneurship cannot be stressed ENOUGH. IT HAS become a key priority for the Government. ThIS ADMINISTRATION is working hard to facilitate start-ups and improve the framework conditions for enterprises. through the government’s program of assisting entrepreneurs in the provision of credit, technology and marketing support to smes, these smes WILL BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE distinctive competencies in harnessing efficient technologies and establishing strategic relationships with partners, market forces AND suppliers and shall propel the country into the world-class business sphere.

Both private and public sectors must continue to cooperate in supporting these programs and fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship.

On a final note, IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT IN stimulating entrepreneurship, we must particularly be aware of the SIGNIFICANT role played by women.

Women are basically entre-preneurs at heart because they have a different approach… concerning how to do business, how to create jobs and how TO provide for both new ideas and innovative ways of putting them into practice. THIS IS WHAT I CAN SEE IN the anp EXPERIENCE when you negrense women rose to the challenges of the province in the 1980s and set up the house of Negros Foundation.

We must therefore overcome the obstacles preventing women from fully participating in the economic life and encourage more women to start and manage their own businesses.

Entrepreneurial activity depends on whether we are able to create an innovative culture. In this sense it is vital to make it more attractive to become entre-preneurs. Success must be awarded, failures must be accepted, and new chances must be given. i therefore commend you for establishing the bulawan awards which recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs for their products AND MOTIVATING THEM TO CREATE BETTER ONES.

It is therefore a pleasure to see that this Trade FaIR further spreads the entrepreneurial spirit… wherein NEGRENSE ENTRE-PRENEURS are working side by side, sharING a common MISSION AND GOAL TO DEVELOP MORE PRODUCTIVE AND STABLE ENTERPRISES. ULTIMATELY THIS BECOMES A tool IN endING poverty in the countryside among the millions of our people.

I THUS have the honor and privilege to declare the 17TH ANNUAL NEGROS Trade Fair open.

MADAMO NGA SALAMAT SA INYO KAG UNTANI MAGPADAYON NGA MANGIN MAINUSWAGON KAG MAHAMONGAYA-ON ANG PROBINSYA SANG NEGROS KAG BUG-OS NGA PILIPINAS.

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