Nearly 80,000 visitors discovered the best of the Negros Region through 126 exhibitors as the Negros Trade Fair marked its 40th year with BÚTLAK, a milestone edition that generated nearly P118 million in reported sales.

The week-long fair ran from Sept. 22 to 27 at the SMX Convention Center Aura in Bonifacio Global City. For four decades, the longstanding celebration has provided a larger marketplace connecting Negrense businesses with shoppers, visibility, and growth opportunities, and this year's staging marked a milestone in that history.

The 40th edition was organized by the Association of Negros Producers in partnership with SM Supermalls, through SM for MSMEs — short for micro, small, and medium enterprises — and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental. Organizers said the 126 exhibitors across 177 booths reflected the region's culture, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial spirit, highlighting the continuing strength of the Negros Region's creative industries and local enterprises.

Based on submissions from 120 of the 126 exhibitors, the fair generated nearly P118 million in reported sales. Spot sales — purchases made directly at the fair — reached P75 million, up 39% year on year, while business-to-business transactions between enterprises accounted for the remaining P43 million.

The exhibitor lineup mixed established and emerging names. Heritage food brands such as Bob's and El Ideal appeared alongside Alter Trade Philippines, a pioneer in fair trade; Upcycled by The Little Vintage Shop, which promotes circular fashion; and LAKAT, which incorporates pineapple-based textiles and other Philippine natural materials into footwear. The range allowed visitors to encounter both the region's legacy brands and its newer ventures in a single venue.

From established businesses to emerging enterprises, the week-long event offered 79,512 visitors an opportunity to discover products shaped by local resources, traditions, and contemporary innovation, spanning heritage food items to footwear made from natural fibers.

“Every purchase does more than bring home a piece of Negros,” Joaquin L. San Agustin, Executive Vice President for Marketing at SM Supermalls, said during the opening ceremony on Sept. 22. “It supports a local business, celebrates Filipino creativity, and helps another entrepreneurial story move forward.”

More than a marketplace, the Negros Trade Fair has helped Negros-based businesses connect with consumers and partners beyond the region. This year's edition also underscored the role of trade fairs in supporting local entrepreneurship. For small and growing businesses, participation in a major exhibition opened valuable opportunities to introduce their products, strengthen their brands, and engage directly with potential customers. For consumers, meanwhile, the fair provided a closer look at the people and communities behind locally made products.

The fair's 40th year reflects the enduring relationship between Negros enterprises and the communities that have supported them over the years. BÚTLAK carried this legacy into another generation, placing the heritage of the Negros Region alongside contemporary approaches to design, production, and enterprise. Its presence in Metro Manila demonstrated how regional businesses can preserve their roots while reaching new markets and audiences.

The Negros Trade Fair's continued presence also served as a reminder that local craftsmanship and entrepreneurship remain integral to the country's diverse economic and cultural landscape. More than a showcase of products, the fair presented a broader story of a region's people, creativity, and capacity to build enterprises that endure.

Through BÚTLAK, the story of Negros continued to reach beyond its borders — one product, enterprise, and connection at a time.