ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 59 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Zamboanga Peninsula availed of the services of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) product development team last week.

The team, composed of marketing specialists from the Region 9 office of the DTI and professional product designers and consultants from Manila, was on the road the whole week last week as it brought expertise and services closer to the pre-identified MSMEs in the province.

The MSMEs were classified into food and non-food sectors.

DTI 9 Business Development Division chief Herminia Cuevas, who led the team in their provincial visits, said that 32 of the MSMEs were into food processing while the rest were into the manufacture of various utilitarian products such as furniture, fashion accessories and handicrafts.

The team provided services to include lectures on the latest trends in the national and international markets, one-on-one consultations on packaging and labeling, product clinic as well as the introduction of new product concepts, ideas and structural designs.

“This product development activities are in preparation for the 4th OTOP Mindanao Island Fair (OMIF),” Cuevas said.

“The MSMEs who were assisted on their product development needs will not be left on their own after that as DTI will see to it that this agency will be able to find a market for their products. That is why we are conducting as well marketing events such as this Mindanao-wide Trade Fair from October 9 to 12 here in Zamboanga City. The event is timed with the Fiesta Pilar celebration to attract as many buyers as possible,” Cuevas added.