The 39th Negros Trade Fair (NTF) generated P151.5 million in total sales—P54.5 million in spot purchases and P97 million in booked business-to-business (B2B) transactions—during its six-day run from September 23 to 28, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier.
Mary Ann Colmenares, Co-Chair of this year’s fair, said on Wednesday, October 1, that several MSMEs scored major breakthroughs. One local food processor secured its first potential export deal, pending FDA clearance, while others landed distribution agreements with national retailers.
Some soft goods producers also started product collaborations with Kultura, a well-known Filipino lifestyle brand, she added.
In total, 488 enterprises joined the fair—including 375 microenterprises supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local government units, along with 113 members of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) and several Negrense-owned businesses whose values align with ANP’s mission also took part.
More than 41,000 visitors came to experience the country’s longest-running provincial trade fair, which showcased the best of Negros Island’s food, crafts, fashion, and homegrown innovation, Colmenares said.
She added the fair wasn’t just about strong sales or business deals. It also brought something intangible but deeply felt.
Tatak Negrense
“More than the products, it is the Negrense vibe,” she said. “As Tessie Sy-Coson told me, there’s something about the Negrense vibe that is unique. She cannot place what it is—but it is there.”
Colmenares called the event a celebration of local identity and resilience. “It was a beautiful show of Negrense spirit,” she added.
This year’s edition gave small businesses the chance to test their products in the Metro Manila market, build long-term connections, and grow their brands beyond the region.
Backed by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, led by Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson, the fair continues to empower local enterprises and promote sustainable growth through entrepreneurship.
The 40th Negros Trade Fair will return in 2026, still at SMX Aura, with strengthened partnerships with SMX Convention Center, SM Supermalls, and the SM for MSMEs program.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.