Agri investors do ocular inspection of investment areas
by Prix D Banzon
Davao City (18 October) -- To convince investors to locate, they need to do actual ocular inspection of the area and for them to also find out the presence of strong political leadership.
The “Purely Business” forum held yesterday at Café Barcellis said the investors do not rely mainly on information they get during briefings but are willing to check the areas offered for investments.
He cited for instance that with the practice, Cotabato has earned the highest in infusing new investments in agriculture among the areas in Mindanao with latest figure at P9.6 billion in banana growing.
“There is strong performance in Cotabato area and in Sarangani province,” he said.
He said the investors would look first for available lots that could be easily accessed by them.
He said the companies look for agricultural farms and BOI had strong links with the local government units as to areas they would like to invest and at the same time do land consolidation.
Dureza also said that investors in banana growing no longer look at the traditional markets but in new areas like China, Russia, Iran and the Middle East countries.
“The investors no longer consider Japan as their market because it is already saturated,” he said.
The Upland Banana Corporation had enrolled in September 1, 2006 some P4.6 billion investments for growing bananas in Cotabato and South Cotabato.
He said this involves some 4,000 hectares and has plans to expand it to 8,000 hectares within two years.
Dureza however said that both Davao City and General Santos City have maintained their performances at high mark as far as investments in the BOI listed priorities are concerned. (PIA XI) [top]
