PROSPERIDAD, AGUSAN DEL SUR – MinDA Secretary Maria Belen S. Acosta highlighted the readiness of Caraga Region and Mindanao to attract investment opportunities during the opening ceremony of this year’s 25th Caraga Business Conference (CBC) on August 10, 2023 at Gov. D.O. Plaza Sports Complex in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

“With the recent decree of Proclamation Number 298, s. 2023, which lifted the state of emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao, and the recent MinDA Study wherein Caraga Region has an 87% security rating and 86% in safety, we are seeing a surge of international investors looking to invest in Caraga and in Mindanao,” Acosta said during her opening message for the conference.

With the theme, “Merging Opportunities, Harmonizing Capacities,” the CBC served as an avenue for knowledge sharing of best business practices, mutual understanding of economic concerns and policies, and leverages the untapped potentials of the region for diverse opportunities.

The conference encouraged local and international investments in the areas of Fishery, Agro-Forestry, Mining, and Ecotourism (F.A.M.E) in Caraga region which is presently valued added with industrialization and innovation plans under the auspices of Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) 2023-2028.

Meanwhile, PCCI Area Vice President for Mindanao Arturo Milan emphasized the region's three economic elements that Caraga chambers must possess which are energy security, ease-of-doing-business climate, and climate change resiliency.

Milan further said that “economic and social transformation will only happen if we have these elements in our business undertakings so that we can bring in investors, generate jobs, and eventually better the lives of our people.”

Dinagat Islands Governor and Caraga Regional Development Council Chair Nilo P. Demerey Jr. also provided insights on the 2023-2028 Caraga Regional Development Plan, and development directions and priorities, where he underscored the importance of Proclamation 298 and synchronization with Philippine Development Plan (PDP) in changing the investment landscape in Caraga. 

The CBC gathered regional and local chambers of commerce and industry to engage on insightful discussion, forge partnerships, and create new investment opportunities for Caraga. These include Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Province of Dinagat Islands, Surigao City, Butuan City, Tandag City, Bislig City, and Siargao Island, among others. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)