ILOILO CITY: Producers based in the province of Aklan are now turning out new indigenous products and designs earmarked for the international markets.

Diosdado Cadena, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director, said that the new products highlight the innovative and enhanced fashion wearables and housewares that will once again put Aklan as a top producer of unique and quality products in the country.

A total of 31 Aklan small and medium enterprises or SMEs participated in the Aklan Product Expo 2012 at SM City shopping mall in Iloilo City on October 22 to 28 of 2012. The products include enhanced fashion wearables such as piña and abaca blouses, tops and scarves, macramé tabletops, tote bags and flower bouquets made of colorful abaca and raffia materials.

Nito and bamboo housewares, furnishings and processed foods are also available at the display site.
A minimum of 25 new product designs were introduced to existing and new buyers and 15 new market linkages with buyers outside the province of Aklan.

Cadena said that this year’s product exposition is targeting P4 million in sales over the 2011 performance of P3.85 million. Started in 2007, the product expo in Iloilo City, sales performance increased by 10 to 15 percent every year.