About Us
Empowering MSMEs
Built with Integrity & Credibility
The year 1996 marked the birth of the Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) to pursue the vision of a bunch of enthusiastic Mindanao-based handicraft producers to put Mindanao in the realm of the growing cottage industry. Such market was then dominated by producers in Luzon and partly of the Visayas. Thus, MTE was born in 1996 tagged as “Mindanao Rediscovered”.
MTEFI has gained credibility in promoting Mindanao products through the conduct of the annual MTE shows in Abreeza Mall in March, August, and December, the MTE goes Glorietta, and the two Editions of Manila Fame in April and October.
Partnership with Government Agencies & Private Sectors
Through the years, MTEFI is recognized Executive Committee (Execom) Member of Center for International Trade Expositions & Missions (CITEM) in organizing the Manila FAME International, accredited NGO/PO/PS in the City Government of Davao, recognized partner of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in implementing Department’s programs and services and accredited Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the Department of Agriculture.
MTEFI is among the industry associations that prove to be valuable ally on the Government’s efforts to improve competitiveness, the passion to empower MSMEs which has a greater impact at the grassroots level of business enterprise.
Sustaining Livelihood
With MTEFI’s focus on community development, it has trained a group of water hyacinth handicrafts producers in Carmen Davao del Norte to partly solve the community’s problem of flooding caused by promising raw material, water hyacinth in 2015.
Then, the advocacy continues in community livelihood by assisting an Indigenous Peoples (IP) group such as Matigsalug, Mandaya, Blaan, Bagobo Tagabawa and others. It widens sub-contracting agreements with established exporters in Davao.
MTEFI has intensified its conduct of skills training, capability seminars and product development services. These initiatives further hone skills, develop raw materials, strengthen product offerings, and test the marketability on new product designs.
Expo & Events
MTE Araw ng Dabaw
MTE Kadayawan
MTE goes Glorietta
MTE Christmas Event
MTE Manila Fame
MTE Through the Years
Board of Trustees
Chairman and President
Dra. Rosevic del Rosario Cembrano
Corporate Secretary
Ms. Yvette Marie C. Punzalan
Treasurer
Mr. Wilson N. Limon, Jr.
Trustee
Ms. Noemi T. Avanceña
Trustee
Ms. Maria Elena S. Mercado
Trustee
Ms. Maria Cristina Floirendo – Brias
Trustee
Emi Englis
Executive Committee
EJ Pasia
Kay Fanlo
Ethan Kyle Lim
MTE Design Team
The MTEFI Design Team is a recognized design group of MTEFI. These are local and Mindanao-based designers, pooled together to render design services to Members and Clients. MTEFI believes that having Mindanaoaon designers will have a better feel of Mindanao “identity” particularly its cultural history, flexibility of its indigenous raw materials and skills of the workers.
Ms. Yvette Marie C. Punzalan
Mr. Wilson N. Limon, Jr.
EJ Pasia
Juvenal Fernandez
Anna Rosal Verga, IDr