24/10/2025
Malaysian business leaders expressed strong interest in investing in Mindanao following a high-level mission led by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which spotlighted the region’s strategic sectors and reaffirmed its readiness to welcome foreign capital under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework.
Held at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur, the Philippines–Malaysia Business Networking Session brought together key business leaders and representatives from Malaysia’s various industries raring to hear viable opportunities in trade, investment and tourism in Mindanao.
MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso Magno underscored Mindanao’s readiness to welcome Malaysian investments in strategic sectors such as agribusiness, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
“Our unified message for this mission is clear: Mindanao is open for business,” Secretary Magno declared. “We are building a better Mindanao—one that stands ready to welcome Malaysian investors and partners who see promise in our vibrant agribusiness sector, our expanding infrastructure landscape, and our bold transition to renewable energy.”
Secretary Magno expressed gratitude to the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) for co-organizing the session, and to the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia for its continued support to MinDA’s initiatives.
Joining Magno were Minister Farserina Mohammad of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (BARMM - MTIT) and Atty. Karen Mae Baydo, Assistant Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), each presenting tailored investment opportunities and partnership models for Malaysian investors.
“Tonight, we build on a legacy of centuries of trade, cultural exchange, and kinship between Mindanao and Malaysia,” Magno added.
MinDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, in his presentation, highlighted Mindanao’s emergence as a dynamic growth center, citing robust economic performance, improved peace and security, and globally competitive export industries as key drivers of investor confidence.
Widely recognized as the Philippines’ food basket, Mindanao accounts for 36% of the country’s farmland and 42% of its total food trade.
Montenegro added that upcoming projects in coconut, cacao, coffee, cattle production and renewable energy represent billions of pesos in new investment opportunities—focused on scaling value-added processing and accelerating agri-industrial development, with the integration of clean energy.
Representing MICCI, Mr. Kelvin Kee praised Mindanao’s evolving economic landscape and reaffirmed Malaysian business group’s interest to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration between Malaysian and Philippine enterprises, particularly in agribusiness, halal trade, renewable energy, tourism, and logistics,” Kee said. “Malaysia’s experience in developing a halal ecosystem aligns seamlessly with Mindanao’s strong agricultural foundation.”
Kee also noted that Malaysia’s role as a manufacturing and logistics hub complements the Philippines’ expanding service economy and dynamic workforce—making cross-border collaboration a natural fit.
The event drew participation from MICCI members and other key companies including Ernst & Young Malaysia, Diraclic, and ESDEC Energy Sdn. Bhd., alongside officials from state-run Malaysian Investment and Development Authority (MIDA).
Notably, the MinDA’s investment pitch coincided with the opening of the ASEAN Summit 2025, where Secretary Magno is slated to speak as a featured panelist at the ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit hosted by Mastercard and slated on Friday, October 24, at the Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur.
As the Philippines’ gateway to the BIMP-EAGA, Mindanao continues to position itself as a competitive and sustainable investment destination, anchored in inclusive growth, regional cooperation, and shared prosperity.
The mission also reflects the strategic priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration to promote Mindanao as a hub for international investment and regional integration.
President Marcos Jr. has emphasized that strengthening economic ties within the BIMP-EAGA sub-region is vital to closing development gaps, boosting trade, and establishing Mindanao as a central node for sustainable growth and cross-border enterprise.
Aligned with the Marcos administration’s Agenda for Prosperity and Transformative Development, the mission aims to catalyze investments in agribusiness, halal industry development, renewable energy, and infrastructure modernization, sectors identified as high-impact drivers of inclusive economic expansion.
| MinDA
