PCW-GREAT Women Project-sponsored women’s cooperative joins exporters’ fair

Hardin ng Kalikasan, a women’s cooperative in Real, Quezon supported by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) sponsored a trade booth (Booth 15) at the 20th Buy Pinoy Exporters’ Fair. The Exporters’ Fair ran from November 25-28, 2010 at the Megatrade Hall 2 at SM Megamall Building B in Mandaluyong City. Hardin ng Kalikasan joined the Exporters’ Fair with the assistance of DTI-CITC.

Hardin ng Kalikasan is a partner cooperative of DTI-CITC under the GREAT Women Project. DTI-CITC promotes women’s economic empowerment, by harnessing Hardin ng Kalikasan’s existing production, business and marketing competencies in developing handmade-paper products from indigenous materials. CITC’s lessons and experience in supporting Hardin ng Kalikasan are expected to serve as basis for enhancements in their processes and systems. DTI-CITC is one of 12 national government agencies engaged in the GREAT Women Project with technical and funding support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The PCW is the lead implementing agency of the Project. The 20th Buy Pinoy Exporters’ Fair was organized by the Buy Pinoy Movement Foundation, Inc. to promote “world-class Philippine products for local buyers.” It was organized in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry; Export Development Council; Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc; Home Accent Group of the Philippines Inc.; Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc.; Philippine Exporters’ Confederation Inc.; Meycauayan Jewel Industry Association Inc.; and the Confederation of Producers and Exporters’ Association of the Philippines.

Other major partners for the Trade Fair were SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall and Go Negosyo, another private sector partner of the GREAT Women Project.