Market matching and linkage activities in Davao Oriental generated high sales pegged at P12.117 million last year, higher by 431 percent as compared in 2008 where sales reached only at P2.811 million, the Region 11 office here of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) reported.

Citing the annual report of the provincial office of the Trade and Industry body, it also disclosed that sales generated through market matching and linkage last year was even 173 percent higher than its annual target of P7 million.

As this developed, Ma. Belenda Ambi, DTI-Davao Oriental provincial director, credited the rapid rise of sales in linking local producers to institutional buyers, creating improved products, and wider exposure of products in trade fairs – whether provincial or regional.

“Trade fairs really help MSMEs expand their markets. They get to meet a lot of potential buyers,” Ambi said.

The province of Davao Oriental currently has four “pasalubong centers,” located in Mati City, Lupon, Governor Generoso, and Banaybanay.

“We are optimistic that these pasalubong centers will help us increase our domestic sales this year,” she added.