DTI brings 300 MSMEs to ProPak Asia

BANGKOK — The Department of Trade and Industry expanded its participation in ProPak Asia 2026, bringing a record 300 Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises to the processing and packaging trade exhibition, up from 227 delegates last year.

The expanded delegation reflects rising demand among local enterprises for advanced technologies to address higher production costs, close efficiency gaps, and meet evolving market standards.

Through the expo, Filipino MSMEs gained direct access to machinery, equipment, and business solutions designed to lower operating costs, improve product quality, and boost competitiveness in domestic and export markets.

ProPak Asia 2026 was held June 10–13 at the IMPACT Muang Thong Thani Exhibition and Convention Center, where the organizer described the event as Asia’s premier global exhibition for processing and packaging.

The exhibition brought together manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, and industry experts from the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and consumer goods sectors.

It showcased technologies in food processing, packaging, automation, smart manufacturing, cold chain systems, sustainability, and digital solutions.

The Philippine delegation was led by DTI Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut, Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Bangkok Commercial Counsellor Maria Emmanuelle Burgos, and DTI regional delegates.

Beyond the exhibition floor, the delegation joined benchmarking activities to learn from Thailand’s experience in innovation, sustainability, and enterprise development.

DTI delegates met with Thailand’s National Innovation Agency to explore possible collaboration on programs that support MSMEs and startups through innovation financing, entrepreneurship development, and global market linkages.

The delegates also visited Siam Cement Group Packaging Public Company Limited in Ratchaburi for a firsthand look at circular economy practices and sustainable manufacturing.

The visit highlighted how businesses can generate value through resource-efficient production, recycling initiatives, and eco-friendly packaging solutions that help protect local communities and the environment.

The delegation also toured the creative enterprise hubs ATT 19 and Warehouse 30 to study how heritage and industrial spaces can be repurposed into centers for entrepreneurship, tourism, and local economic growth.

The mission aligns with DTI’s broader MSME development agenda, which seeks to help enterprises become more productive, innovative, resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive under the MSME Development Plan 2023–2028.

According to DTI, the expanded mission supports its commitment to helping MSMEs move up the value chain by exposing them to global technologies and innovative business models.

The initiative also supports the agency’s goal of building a resilient MSME sector capable of producing higher-value goods, generating sustainable jobs, and driving inclusive economic growth.