DAVAO CITY – Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Leo Tereso Magno led a group of business and private sector leaders from Mindanao at the 4th Philippine-Singapore Business and Investment Summit (PSBIS) on Thursday, September 19, at Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore.
MAGNO (center)
In a statement on Thursday, Magno said leaders from the region aim to attract business and investment prospects that will contribute to the economic expansion of Mindanao at the summit organized by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.
Magno, the event’s resource speaker, discussed the “Investment and Business Opportunities in Mindanao.” Notable government officials and business leaders from the Philippines and Singapore joined him on stage.
“We, in MinDA, are honored to facilitate the participation of Mindanao's private sector in this pivotal summit – a solid platform to promote Mindanao while pursuing strategic linkages with the private sector of both countries,” Magno said.
Magno highlighted that this event is not only a chance to present Mindanao's vast business and investment potential but also to introduce the vibrant culture, communities, and talents the region has to offer to the Singaporean business sector.
Jojie Ilagan-Bian, chairperson of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Mindanao and representative for BIMP-EAGA, expressed her optimism regarding the summit, anticipating the formation of solid investment prospects and business collaborations.
“We are confident that our Mindanao delegates will present top-tier investment projects to our Singaporean counterparts. This summit provides an invaluable avenue to maximize opportunities for our communities in Mindanao,” Bian said.
The Mindanao delegation featured key private sector representatives, including leaders from the Joji Ilagan International Schools, Anflo Management and Investment Corp., A Brown Company, Alsons Development and Investment Corp., and Six Eleven Global Services.
Key officials from national government agencies and Mindanao local government units also joined the delegation, including North Cotabato Gov. and Regional Development Council-12 Chairman Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Dinagat Islands Gov. and RDC-Caraga Chairman Nilo Demerey Jr., Southern Philippines Development Authority Administrator Abdulgani Salapuddin, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Chief of Staff Hassanal Abdurahim.
MinDA also hosted a Mindanao Business Networking session on the summit’s sidelines, allowing the Mindanao private sector participants to engage directly with over 30 Singaporean business leaders and discuss potential investment strategies.
The Mindanao Business Networking includes meetings with various companies' chief executive officers and other business leaders from different multinational companies across Singapore’s diverse industries.
The Mindanao delegation also conducted industry site visits and engaged in business meetings with partners such as Nanyang Technological University, the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Asia Pacific Mastercard Singapore, DHL Asia Pacific Innovation Center, and the Aquaculture Center of Excellence, among others.