Small Enterprises Are Profiting from Cebu’s Hosting of APEC, Trade Official Says

Cebu province’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are already benefiting from its hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, a trade official said on Tuesday.

Trade and Industry Regional Director Asteria Caberte noted that the arrival of more than 2,000 APEC delegates in Cebu would have a big impact on Cebu’s supply chain.

“In the supply for the hotels for example, we can just visually figure out the one at the Radisson Hotel … where fruit shakes are free-flowing,” Caberte said during an open forum held at the Provincial Capitol here.

As hotels prepare local cuisines, they get raw food supplies from local producers, she said, adding that Cebu hotels are encouraged by the organizing committee of the APEC 2015 to prepare traditional fare to promote the region’s food and other products to the delegates.

Caberte further said that the demand for locally made scented candles is also growing, and this means more jobs for Cebuanos.

“So whether we like it or not, APEC is impacting on our MSMEs and this is money for them,” she said.

The trade official said they hope that through Cebu’s hosting of the APEC, these locally made products could be showcased abroad for the benefit of the Cebuanos. (PNA) RMA/PND/SSC