First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque on Friday led the opening of the 2025 DTI-Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair, a premier showcase of 300 homegrown enterprises championing sustainable innovation, digital transformation, and community-driven entrepreneurship.

The five-day fair, held in time for National MSME Month, seeks to strengthen the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector by providing a national platform for high-value products and modern digital business solutions. MSMEs make up 99.5% of all business establishments in the country and employ 62% of the Philippine labor force.

Among the fair’s highlights are the Philippine Sustainability Pavilion and the COCONUT Philippines Pavilion.

The Sustainability Pavilion showcases handcrafted furniture, native textiles, and eco-friendly homeware that promote low-impact design and cultural preservation, while the COCONUT Philippines Pavilion presents high-value coconut-based products such as virgin coconut oil, coco sugar, wellness beverages, and industrial-grade activated carbon.

Also highlighted during the event was the launch of DTI: Asenso Pilipino – Season 2, a nationwide campaign produced in partnership with ABS-CBN’s My Puhunan and journalist Karen Davila.

As part of its continuing drive to champion Filipino entrepreneurship under the Bagong Pilipinas vision, the DTI said the new season will spotlight inspiring stories of MSMEs, emphasizing their resilience, creativity, and transformation.

Aligned with the Tatak Pinoy Strategy, the fair also hosts business-to-government sessions connecting MSMEs with key agencies and includes talks on leveraging AI-driven solutions and e-commerce tools. The 2025 National Trade Fair runs from July 23 to 27 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Halls 1–3. ♦

Date of Release: 28 July 2025