P601 Million Investments Committed during 18th Minbizcon

By: Nelly Nita N. Dillera

The investment matching facilitated by the Department of Trade & Industry 12 during the 18th Mindanao Business Conference generated a total of P601 million investment commitments.

Investment areas include production of cardava banana, moringa or malunggay, fresh water shrimp or ulang, barako coffee and hotel development.

DTI-12 took on the strategy of inviting a prospective buyer who will dictate his market requirement to the prospective investors.

Buyer for cardava banana is MAGIRCO of Magpet, Cotabato who is into banana chips production. He sells to Davao processors who add various flavors to his first fry chips. He requires raw cardava banana for processing. 

A total of 1,000 hectares of land in Sen. Ninoy Aquino and Sarangani were committed for contract growing by identified investors. Total investments for the project is P54 million.

Secura Philippines, represented by Danilo Manayaga is the buyer of moringa pods which will be used for bio-diesel production. A total of 2,495 hectares of land were committed by over 100 farmers/cooperatives to plant moringa. Total project cost is P139.75 million.

Marjun Villanueva of SCAMPI Fresh Gensan has started to provide technical assistance for pond preparation and distribution of fingerling to prospective investors of fresh water shrimp or ulang.

A total of 39 hectares amounting to P12.77 million investments is generated in this project. SCAMPI Fresh Gensan is currently a supplier of fresh frozen prawns to restaurants and malls.

Meanwhile, coffee growers/processors who are also members of the Phil. Coffee Board are looking for investors for around 1,000 hectares of barako coffee.

The board commits to provide the seedlings early next year but the prospective investors may now start land preparation. A total of 4,000 hectares of land were committed by individuals and associations in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani areas. The project costs about P368 million.

In eco-tourism, negotiations are underway for the re-operation of a hotel in North Cotabato that costs P30 million.

Several other eco-tourism projects were included for investment promotion in the different provinces of the region. Mountain resorts with natural waterfalls, hot and cold springs, rivers and caves are awaiting investors to develop these areas. The water bodies also lend themselves for diving sports and resort development. DTI-12 assists LGUs and proponents to package investment briefs for these projects. Same briefs shall be matched with prospective investors.