CARAT Expo 2016 set to boost market opportunities
BUTUAN CITY, Sept 19 – Caraga region is set to reach new heights, starting off with its first Caraga Agricultural Trade and Marketing Exposition or the CARAT Expo 2016, a multi-stakeholder trade and marketing initiative focused on showcasing Caraga’s rich agricultural and fishery products on November 9-13, 2016, this city.
The CARAT Expo helps local trade associations, producers, agro-entrepreneurs in creating new markets and in improving buyer-seller relationships; launch and institutionalize a media technology-use plan for the promotion of a signature brand for Caraga; and help improve productivity and strengthen food supply chain in the region by educating producer groups and trade associations on new technologies and innovations in agriculture from several national and international resource persons.
“Caraga has marked a significant growth in its agricultural products. A substantial number of farmers and marine producers have increased in their productivity. Hence, the challenge to sustain the momentum of the region’s agricultural development has been reached and must be brought to the next level. One step is to begin promoting Caraga local products, establish market links and networks and open new avenues for agricultural trade and commerce,” underscored Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) president Roger Ramirez.
The CARAT Expo, a regional event that brings together the producers, buyers and sellers will be featuring products daily during the weeklong activity: Day 1 – Lobster Day; Day 2 – Mango Day; Day 3 – Aquamarine Day; Day 4 – Coconut; Day 5 – Livestock Day; Day 6 – Veggies Day; Day 7 – Palay/Banana/Tubers Day.
Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga regional director Mylah Faye Aurora Carino said that CARAT Expo is very important for many reasons. “First, it promotes the region’s many agri-fishery products. Second, it features presentations on the latest technologies and innovations on agri and fishery. Third, it will allow the various producers in Caraga to determine which product should be considered as the region’s signature product. Thus, I am enjoining all the stakeholders to support this very worthwhile endeavor,” stressed Cariño.
Among also of the many activities set by the organizers of the CARAT Expo are products display, trading, business encounters, skills competition, cooking demos, live band party, and contests on essay writing, poster making, dancing, singing, bartending, fruits garnishing, table setting, cooking and eating.
CARAT Expo welcomes all the leading agricultural retailers and wholesalers, food producers, agronomics, agriculturists, engineers, technicians, farmers, manufacturers, food traders and exporters, researchers, agriculture students, educators, and consumers.
The event is envisioned to be an annual gathering of producers, suppliers, marketers, investors and buyers that will serve as strategic venue for market-matching, linkages and agri-investment.
Driven by its objectives, the organizers – the Caraga Chamber of Commerce, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA), supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Winrock International and various stakeholders are coming together to promote a signature brand for the region.
For interested sponsors and exhibitors, you may contact the secretariat at (085) 342-8859, (085) 342-9404, +639157969861, +639995761855, or email them at caratexpo@gmail.com. (Venus L. Garcia/PIA-Caraga)
