Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao and Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) Minister Abuamri Taddik led on Dec. 12 the opening of the Niyogosyo and Agri trade booths, located at the Mall of Alnor, as part of this years’ Shariff Kabunsuan Festival. (Michael Camsa/BIO)
COTABATO CITY— The biggest trade fair of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival opened on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Mall of Alnor in this city, offering a diverse array of local products for visitors and spectators.
The Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reforms (MAFAR) invited micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) as well as local producer groups and cooperatives from the different Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provinces to showcase their products.
For those interested in indulging coconut products and learning about the industry, the Niyogosyo booths on the mall’s ground floor are a must-visit. Meanwhile, the second floor hosts the Agri trade booths showcasing diverse agricultural products found in the region.
During the opening of the Niyogosyo booths, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao expressed his support to the event. While he admitted that Cotabato City has smaller areas for coconut trees, Matabalao affirmed the city’s readiness to support the industry.
“Anytime that the coconut industry needs the city government’s support, please let us know,” the mayor said.
“By all means, we will let our support,” he added, further citing limited coconut farms in the city.
In his speech, MTIT Minister Abuamri Taddik was elated by the government’s support in improving the Bangsamoros’ lives.
“It’s truly amazing to see our government’s commitment to improving the lives of Bangsamoro through such initiatives,” Taddik remarked.
During the fair, one of the exhibitors from Tawi-Tawi, assisted by the MTIT, introduced their coconut oil product. When asked about what makes their product unique from the rest of the available coconut oil in the market, the exhibitor confidently said “it has a longer shelf life, the taste, and the texture do not change even if it’s exposed to warm or cold temperature”.
For those eager to explore what the Bangsamoro region can offer, the Niyogosyo booths will remain open until December 15, while the Agri trade booths will cater festival-goers until December 19 during mall hours. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
