The Davao City Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council officially opened the 2026 MSME Fair on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Annex Activity Center of SM City Davao. The event, running until July 12, marks the celebration of MSME Development Week under the theme “Navigating the Shift: Building Resilient and Future-ready MSMEs.”
Organizers and Key Participants
The fair was organized by the Davao City MSMED Council (DCMSMEDC) in partnership with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII), the City Government of Davao, and the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao (DTI-Davao). Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, chair of the 21st Davao City Council Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry, represented Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Z. Duterte, who was in The Hague, Netherlands, visiting his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Mayor’s Message and MSME Role
In a message delivered by Councilor Ortiz, Mayor Duterte described MSMEs as the backbone of the city's socio-economic development. He credited them for creating jobs, driving innovation, and fostering community resilience amid shifting economic trends. He added that the trade fair demonstrates the city government's commitment to helping local entrepreneurs expand their market reach and build sustainable businesses.
Keynote Remarks and Statistics
Dr. Mirasol B. Tiu, DCMSMEDC vice-chairperson and DCCCII president, thanked DTI-Davao, represented by Assistant Regional Director Rachel S. Remitio, along with sponsors, exhibitors, and partners. She reiterated that MSMEs “remain the backbone of our local economy” and highlighted their role in job creation and innovation. Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde, Mindanao's private sector representative to the National MSMED Council, noted that MSMEs account for more than 99 percent of all registered businesses in the country and provide livelihood for over 65 percent of the Filipino workforce. She stated, “They are not merely economic units; they are nation builders.”
Four Pillars for Competitiveness
Dr. Monteverde outlined four pillars for MSMEs to stay competitive: digital transformation, financial innovation, ecosystem strengthening, and agility. She emphasized equal e-commerce opportunities for small sari-sari stores and rural entrepreneurs, expanded credit guarantees, fintech partnerships, inclusive lending models, green loans, and women-focused credit lines. She warned that global risks, such as supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions, make agility “no longer a competitive advantage, but already a survival imperative.”
Upcoming Initiatives
Dr. Monteverde announced that DTI, with World Bank support, is developing a unified business identification number for MSMEs, expected within the next one to two years, to simplify transactions across digital platforms and banking systems. She also invited the public to the first ASEAN Innovation Summit, scheduled for September 17 to 19 at SMX Lanang, co-organized by DCCCII, DTI, and the City Government of Davao, in line with the Philippines' ASEAN Chairmanship.
Exhibit Details
The exhibit halls at the SM Annex ground floor are open daily until the fair closes on July 12. (Casandra D. Payan/SPAMAST, SunStar Intern)
