BOI to hold ARMM investors' forum

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Investments (BOI) is set to hold a business forum to drum up investor interest in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), given opportunities in the areas of agriculture and tourism, an official said.

“We are organizing a business forum for ARMM which will be held in September or October,” Raul Angeles, BOI executive director for the Investments Servicing Group told reporters yesterday.

He said no specific date has been set for the forum but that they are planning to hold it in Davao.

The BOI is organizing a business forum after the ARMM regional government asked for assistance to promote the region as an investment destination.

Angeles noted that there are several opportunities available for investors in ARMM.

He said that as the region is rich in natural resources, the forum would serve as the venue to inform potential investors of opportunities available in the region.

“We want to promote investments in agriculture, seaweed, tourism and other resource-based industries in the forum,” he said.

Through the forum, he said, the government would also want to increase investor confidence in the region.

He said more investments would help increase employment opportunities and promote peace in the region.

At present, he said a local incentive code is being crafted by the local government units in the region to encourage more investments.