DTI sets modern rubber production investment opportunity seminar

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, March 10 (PNA) -– The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in coordination with the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (BSMED) is conducting a two-day seminar for prospective investors who would like to venture into modern rubber production.

DTI Regional Officer-in-Charge Sitti Amina Jain said the seminar, which is scheduled Tuesday until Wednesday, is aimed at providing information on investment opportunities in rubber industry and impart modern knowledge on rubber farm management techniques.

The seminar will be held at Case Mea Hotel in the municipality of Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Jain said that at least 100 rubber farmers from all over the region are expected to attend the said training.

She said the seminar is also open to existing rubber farmers, processors, traders, and other rubber industry stakeholders who would like to adopt new technologies in their farms to enhance production and improve the quality of natural rubber produced.

A topic on marketing and pricing of natural rubber is also included in the program. These will be on the first day of the seminar.

The second day of the seminar will be devoted to field visits to enable the participants to actually see the operation of select rubber nurseries, plantations and processing plants in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Zamboanga Sibugay Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Roel Catimbang said they are giving more attention to the rubber industry since rubber is one of Zamboanga Peninsula’s champion products, especially in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

“Zamboanga Sibugay is touted to be the rubber capital in the region and the provincial government is raring to promote the rubber industry. This is also the reason the seminar is conducted here,” Catimbang said.

Meanwhile, Jain said the seminar is just the first of many other training, seminar, product development, and other forms of assistance in the pipeline this year for the region’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the DTI’s SME Roving Academy (SMERA) program. (PNA)
LAP/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION/UTB