2023 National Food Fair at SM Megamall draws strong support for food entrepreneurs

THE recently concluded 2023 National Food Fair, with its theme “Go Discover, Taste, Enjoy!” closed on a high note after a five-day run from July 12 to 16, at the Megatrade Halls in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Based on preliminary reports, the fair was able to generate sales amounting to Php 23.586 million for the 268 onsite exhibitors. The event also drew in 29,000 fairgoers. At the opening ceremony, the House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez noted the P1.2-billion 2023 National Budget allocation to fund MSME programs. He also reiterated Congress’ continued commitment to advance policies that support Filipino MSMEs.

the Lazada e-commerce platform with over a hundred exhibitors. The show was also supported by Shopee and TikTok.

Showcasing the fusion of tradition and innovation, special settings, pavilions, and MSME clusters drew attention to developments that elevate traditional Filipino products to meet stringent food industry standards and be competitive in the global market. Also part of the daily program were entrepreneurship talks and learning sessions that provide food entrepreneurs with resources and ideas about how to strengthen and position their businesses for continued growth.

Focusing on how insurance can help Filipinos live brighter lives, the attendees talked about the including financial literacy in the school curriculum, how insurance products can be further appreciated by the public, and efforts to spread financial inclusivity in communities.

In terms of further cultivating the industry, discussions also touched on digital transformation, financial inclusion, as well as the International Financial Reporting Standard-17, the new method of accounting for insurance contracts.

Apart from Strain and Sison, also present were Sun Life Global Chief Financial Officer Manjit Singh and Sun Life Asia President Ingrid Johnson, as well as local executives, including Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc.

“It was a fruitful meeting between Sun Life and the IC. I am happy to share that our purpose as an organization aligns very well with the government’s thrust to help Filipinos achieve a brighter future,” Sison said. “For 128 years now, Sun Life has always endeavored to help our countrymen achieve lifetime financial security. We have a long way to go, but with everyone’s cooperation, I am quite certain that this will become a reality.”