A business networking forum between the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) and Malaysian businessmen will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur as interest in the conflict-torn region soared after the signing of the Framework Agreement that aims to forge a lasting peace settlement there.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur partnered with Minda and the Putrajaya Chamber of Commerce to hold the Mindanao Business Networking Forum on November 29 at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel.

“Even since the signing of the Framework Agreement, there has been tremendous interest from Malaysian companies on investing in Mindanao. The forum capitalizes on this interest, and we hope that this would translate to actual sizable investments,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya said in the same statement.

The framework agreement that was signed in early October will pave the way for the creation of a new Bangsamoro region. The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front hope that with the implementation of the agreement, hailed as a lasting resolution to the decades-old territorial disputes in the southern region, will be crafted.

“We believe that through vigorous economic development drive, in tandem with the consolidation of peace, Mindanao will not only live up to its name as ‘the land of promise’, but become in fact promise fulfilled,” he added.

Expected to be present are Minda Chairman and Signing Minister for Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Luwalhati Antonino, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other key officials from the region and from Malaysia.

They will be accompanied by some 50 businessmen from Mindanao.

The said forum aims to present to Malaysian businessmen and investors current trade and investment opportunities in Mindanao, particularly in sectors such as agriculture / agri-business development, tourism development and infrastructure development, particularly in transport, power and renewable energy, and services such as Islamic finance and ICT-enabled services.

According to Malaya, there will be a chance for Filipino and Malaysian businessmen to interact in breakout sessions, as well as in one-on-one meetings with their counterparts.

Malaysian companies expected to attend include Berjaya Corp., Genting Plantations, Malaysian Biotechnology Corp., Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd., and Philippine Airlines Malaysia, among others.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. (Matrade) and Matrade-Manila have also confirmed participation in the event.

The forum will be conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Malaysia, ARMM Regional Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Board of Investments, Department of Agriculture, Matrade and other supporting organizations in Malaysia.

It is also supported by the Putrajaya Chamber of Commerce and the Berjaya Times Square.

The forum is also designated as a follow-up activity to the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum held on May 29 in Kuala Lumpur, where Vice President Jejomar Binay was the guest of honor and keynote speaker, and the ARMM Mindanao Investment Forum, scheduled on November 23 to 26 in Cotabato City.

Antonino, Hataman and other members of the Philippine delegation will also be participating in the BIMP-EAGA and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Consumer Fair in Melaka from November 30 to December 2.

The fair will showcase Philippine high-value agri-fishery products and tourism destinations, which will be participated in by 50 exhibitors from Mindanao and Palawan province.