COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Foreign and local business groups have posted “huge” purchase orders for various products from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the recent three-day International Food Exhibition (IFEX) conducted in Manila by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) alongside public and private entities, officials said Tuesday.

“We’ve received huge orders from some local and foreign buyer-participants at the 8th IFEX. It is good news in our maiden entry to international food exhibit,” said ARMM Executive Sinarimbo, a key facilitator of the first regional delegation to the gathering.

In a brief interview with journalists here, Sinarimbo said orders came from business groups based in Manila and abroad interested in tropical fruits, coconut oil, semi-processed seaweeds, and other products from the autonomous region.

Samples of the ordered products were displayed at the 8th IFEX held from May 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia in Manila.

Sinarimbo said the buyers’ purchased orders involved tens of millions in pesos, which he described as “may be minimal but very significant for the maiden entry of ARMM to the food exhibit.”

At the opening of the 8th IFEX convergence on May 12, DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo cited as “very significant” the first-ever participation of food exhibitors and officials from the ARMM.

The ARMM delegation led by acting Gov. Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong was also warmly received by DTI-partner institutions including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

USAID-Philippine head Gloria Steele and MinDA Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino accompanied Domingo and several participating-buyers in visiting the ARMM booths displaying various food products from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

At least nine food producers represented the ARMM to the three-day international exhibit.