‘Made in Puerto Rico’ fair to showcase local goods, talent
At podium, Puerto Rico Products Association President Manuel Cidre speaks, while María Félix and Secretary of State David Bernier (sitting) listen.
With the goal of showcasing a broad range of local products and prove the island’s productive capacity, the Puerto Rico Products Association will sponsor the 4th edition of the “Made in Puerto Rico” fair Dec. 7-8 in Caguas, trade group President Manuel Cidre announced Tuesday.
The event will take place in the town’s Promenade of the Arts from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“This fair has become Puerto Rico’s largest showcase for local products. Last year the fair brought together an average of 20,000 people and more than 100 exhibitors during two days,” Cidre said, during a news conference in Hato Rey.
“This year we have set the goal of serving as a bridge to market what is made in Puerto Rico abroad. To accomplish this, we will formalize a collaborative agreement between our organization and the Orlando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to promote products and services through local entrepreneurs and investors in that city, which has a high concentration of the Puerto Rican diaspora,” Cidre added.
María Félix, chairwoman of the organizing committee, said that live and previously recorded interviews will be streamed via Internet during the two-day event, to give “local businesses the chance to present the advantages of their product and what sets them part in the market.”
“We want the island’s great diversity to be known beyond our 100 x 35, the talent and ability of our entrepreneurs in all sectors and of all sizes. From technology to agriculture, food, crafts, furniture industry, among many others. In short, the whole range of products and services of the highest quality that we can offer,” Félix said.
This year, the Products Association is partnering with the Antrocket.com crowdfunding platform to identify 25 micro-entrepreneurs with quality products and defined growth goals that will benefit from a campaign to inject capital into each one of their projects.
“Our goal is to raise a minimum of $3,000 for each of them, which they can use as the foundation to develop their small business operation,” Cidre said.
This event has the support of Puerto Rico Trade and Export, he added.
