Kuala lumpur: Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that Mindanao is emerging as a promising investment destination, drawing strong interest, particularly from Malaysia, to stimulate economic growth as peace and stability take hold in the southern Philippines.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Marcos emphasized the region's potential during an exclusive interview with their Editor-in-Chief, Arul Rajoo Durar Raj. As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its first-ever parliamentary election on March 26 next year, Marcos described the southern Philippine island as a 'promised land.' He noted that the region's potential had been untapped due to years of conflict but expressed optimism about future investments following the upcoming parliamentary election.
Marcos was in Kuala Lumpur attending the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which concluded recently. He highlighted that peace in the southern region has led to renewed investor confidence, with support from Malaysia, Japan, the European Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Mindanao's economic transformation through projects in infrastructure, agriculture, and education. He mentioned that once an elected parliament is in place, opportunities for economic growth would be significant.
Mindanao, known as the Philippines' food basket, contributes 36 percent of the nation's farmland and 42 percent of its total food trade, with substantial outputs in banana, coconut, cacao, coffee, and tuna. Media reports suggest that Mindanao's economy is poised for revival as Malaysian business leaders showed strong interest in investing in the island's fast-growing sectors. This interest follows a high-level trade and investment mission led by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) last week.
The Philippines-Malaysia Business Networking Session, held on October 23, attracted prominent Malaysian corporate and investment figures keen to explore Mindanao's potential as an emerging hub for agribusiness, halal industry development, infrastructure, and clean energy.
According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM1.37 billion with the Philippines in August 2025, with exports amounting to RM2.06 billion and imports at RM689 million. The main exports to the Philippines were integrated circuits, palm oil, and refined petroleum, while Malaysia's key imports from the Philippines included integrated circuits, cocoa beans, and electric batteries. The data also showed that the Philippines' exports to Malaysia rose by 10.3 percent year-on-year to US$226 million in August 2025, compared to US$204 million in the same month last year.