The establishment of Grand Mosque in Cotabato City was made possible through the philanthropic contribution of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei—a symbol of strong bonds of solidarity and friendship between the Philippines and Brunei. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim highlighted the various investment opportunities awaiting the autonomous region during a business forum on May 29, following the recent bilateral agreement between the Philippines and Brunei.
Chief Minister Ebrahim was among the Philippine delegates, along with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who made a two-day visit to Brunei on May 28-29.
During the first day of the state visit, President Marcos and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah signed agreements on tourism, maritime cooperation, training certification standards, and food security in the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region during the Philippines-Brunei bilateral meeting.
At the forum, Ebrahim discussed the transformative phase of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), centered on sustainable development, peace, and inclusive growth.
He highlighted the region’s abundant natural resources, rich cultural heritage, and eco-tourism potential, complemented by greater autonomy for tailored development.
“Our strong economic performance, competitive investment costs, and commitment to sustainability enhance this appeal,” he said.
He noted that relevant infrastructure projects improve connectivity and utilities across the region, and a skilled and diverse workforce drives innovation.
“Crucially, government-private sector collaboration ensures a business-friendly environment, making BARMM promising for long-term investments,” he stressed.
He emphasized exploring public-private partnerships (PPPs) and advocating a PPP code, saying, “to leverage private sector expertise and investment for a dynamic and resilient regional economy.”
The Chief Minister stated that the fertile lands in the region allowed BARMM to be a frontrunner in rice and corn production.
He also mentioned BARMM’s significant contribution to the country’s fisheries and aquaculture, infrastructure developments, and other renewable energy projects.
Efforts to institutionalize the Halal industry and bolster tourism in BARMM were also shared in the forum.
With this, Ebrahim urged more investors to open doors of investment in BARMM for a sustainable future for the region and the Philippines.
Boosting economic development by capitalizing on BARMM’s economic potential is aligned with the Chief Minister’s third priority agenda. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
