DAVAO CITY — The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is eyeing investors from the Middle East countries for the development of Mindanao.
MinDA Chair Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto said he will be meeting with some investors from the Middle East who are interested to pour in capital to the region
“The Middle East (investors) want to relocate their funds and what we want it is not only to make Mindanao as the parking area of that funds but for a destination of investment in partnership with our people,” he said.
In this meeting, Alonto said he would request investors not to just to participate as buyers of the product of Mindanao, but to its development by putting up their industry here on the island.
Alonto pointed out the benefit of putting industries on jobs for Mindanaoans.
Alonto said he will first introduce the agricultural sector since it is known to be the fruit basket in the country.
Then, if there are industries that will be introduced, Alonto said the government will work on it to provide their needs.
Alonto also said investors from the European countries also expressed the intention but there are still issues that need to be addressed.
Alonto is banking on the Tawi-Tawi Economic Freeport Zone which will host many facilities including a shipyard area, airport and seaport.
The Tawi-Tawi economic zone is included among the major projects under the Mindanao Development Corridors strategy which is designed to improve infrastructure, enhance linkages between growing and lagging regions, and ensure balanced growth.
Alonto, who led the launching of the Mindanao Jobs Report on Friday, emphasized the need to spur activities more efficiently with the support of all stakeholders to achieve the objectives set in the report.
Alonto sees Mindanao’s agriculture and agri-based industries as the most prominent economic drivers. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)
