THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) spearheaded the delegation of business and private sector leaders from Mindanao for the 4th Philippines-Singapore Business and Investment Summit (PSBIS) on Sept. 19 at the Shangri-La Hotel.
In a statement on Sept. 18, Leo Tereso Magno, MinDA chairperson, said the opportunity will be a solid platform to promote Mindanao while pursuing strategic linkages with the private sector of both countries.
“This is not just an opportunity to showcase the immense potential for business and investment in Mindanao but also to promote the rich culture, communities, and talents that our region has to offer to the Singaporean business community,” Magno said.
Joji-Ilagan Bian, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Mindanao and BIMP-EAGA representative, said they expect concrete investment leads and business partnerships to be forged during the PSBIS.
“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 PSBIS is organized by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, featuring other prominent government officials and business leaders from the Philippines and Singapore.
The Mindanao delegation includes notable private sector representatives such as Joji Ilagan International Schools, Anflo Management and Investment Corporation president Ricardo Lagdameo, A Brown Company Inc. president and CEO Robertino Pizzaro, Alsons Development and Investment Corporation president Miguel Rene Dominguez, and Six Eleven Global Services CEO Ana Floresa Gelbolingo.
Also joining the delegation were key officials from national government agencies and Mindanao local government units. These include North Cotabato governor and RDC XII chairperson Hon. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Dinagat Islands governor and RDC Caraga chairperson Hon. Nilo Demerey, Jr., Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) administrator Abdulgani Salapuddin, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) chief of staff Atty. Hassanal Abdurahim.
MinDA also hosted a Mindanao Business Networking session, allowing the Mindanao private sector participants to engage directly with over 30 Singaporean business leaders and discuss potential investment strategies. These include meetings with CEOs and business leaders from various multinational companies across Singapore’s diverse industries.
The Mindanao delegation will also conduct industry site visits and engage in business meetings with partners such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Asia Pacific Mastercard Singapore, DHL Asia Pacific Innovation Center, and the Aquaculture Center of Excellence, among others.
