NOW on its 17th year, Oro BEST Expo continues to explore new areas of opportunities. For this year, the choice of “ORO BEST goes Halal” as the theme for the Oro BEST Expo is based on the growing significance of the halal market in Cagayan de Oro and the wider region.
Launched in 2007, the Oro BEST Expo will be held October 29 at Limketkai Luxe Hotel and is a flagship event of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber).
It is aimed to address the concerns of the region’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on networking, market development, policy advocacy for entrepreneurship and most importantly, the growth and sustainability of the Chamber member-companies.
According to Oro Chamber chairman Ray Talimio, the theme “ORO BEST goes Halal” was conceptualized to entice foreign Muslim tourists to visit Northern Mindanao.
“We have the strength, the logistics and the center of the supply chain but most tourists go to Cotabato because we have few halal-certified establishments here,” Talimio said.
With the surge of investors in the country and dynamic market in the region, the Oro BEST Expo is set to deliver informative and comprehensive trade fair in Cagayan de Oro City and beyond Northern Mindanao and positions itself to be the trading, logistics and services center of the island of Mindanao.
This is also aligned with President Marcos’ eight-point socioeconomic agenda, the comprehensive halal strategic plan aimsto tap into the economic potential of the halal industry that is poised to double domestic and international output by 2028.
Furthermore, Oro BEST Expo supports the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) commitment to position the Philippines as the fastest-growing halal hub in the Asia Pacific region and its halal-friendly Philippines’ campaign.
With an increasing demand for halal products and services, there is a need to provide a dedicated platform for businesses and trade organizations to explore and tap into the potential of this thriving industry.
The rationale behind this theme is multi-faceted. In conclusion, the Oro BEST Expo 2024: “Oro BEST goes Halal” is designed to meet the growing demarnd for halal products and services, provide economic and cultural opportunities, and facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange within this burgeoning industry.
By promoting the halal theme, the event aims to contribute to the development and promotion of halal products and services in Cagayan de Oro and its surrounding regions.
The objectives are the following: promote and showcase halal products and services in Cagayan de Oro and in Northern Mindanao; provide a platform for businesses and trade organizations to explore potential partnerships and collaborations in the halal industry; provide support for the establishment of the Mindanao Halal Corridor, Northern Mindanao as the halal hub and to develop a comprehensive halal supply chain through regional development, institutionalized knowledge management, skills matching and upskilling, investment promotions, and capacity building; and creation of the Mindanao Halal Satellite Office in Cagayan de Oro City that will house a one-stop shop to link allstakeholders and ensure synchronized efforts, most especially expansion and recognition of halal-certifying bodies.
