Mindanao Lands Five-Firm Deal in Seoul, Opening Doors to Industrial and Renewable Energy Expansion

Mindanao Secures Strategic Korean Partnerships

Mindanao Strengthens International Cooperation

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), led by Chairperson Sec. Leo Tereso A. Magno, formalized five new collaborations with Korean firms during the Philippines–Korea Business Forum and Networking Session in Seoul. The mission highlighted the Marcos administration’s commitment to reducing barriers for investors and positioning Mindanao as a prime destination for international partnerships.

Sec. Magno reiterated the administration’s stance on investor support, emphasizing the shift toward streamlined, investor-friendly processes.

Key Areas of Collaboration

• Industrial Development
  • JSCO Holdings Inc. – Nickel processing, potential smelter construction, and related industrial expansion to boost job creation and strengthen Mindanao’s mineral processing capacity.
• Infrastructure and Safety
  • REFLOMAX Co., Ltd – Traffic and personal safety enhancement to support modernization efforts across Mindanao.
• Water Security and Disaster Resilience
  • CHUNGWOO E&E Co., Ltd – Water treatment and disaster prevention plants to reinforce community resilience and expand safe water access.
• Environmental and Renewable Initiatives
  • SSKKK Solution Co., Ltd – Environmental consulting, renewable energy pursuits, and greenhouse gas reduction aligned with global sustainability goals.
  • Hanchang Energy Co., Ltd – Solar power generation and renewable energy infrastructure to improve energy security.

Ambassador-Designate Bernadette Therese Fernandez noted Korea’s strong trade and development partnership with the Philippines, citing USD 9.89 billion in trade for 2024 and USD 1.33 billion in active loans and grants. MinDA Asec. Romeo Montenegro also underscored South Korea’s standing as one of the Philippines’ top investment sources.

Private sector representative Mr. Wee Yong-ho, an investor with operations in Dinagat Islands, expressed confidence in Mindanao’s long-term potential and encouraged more Korean partners to invest.

Provincial leaders from Dinagat Islands, Davao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental presented additional business and tourism opportunities, showcasing the region’s broad investment landscape.

Explore Mindanao’s Expanding Investment Landscape

Mindanao’s strengthened partnerships reflect a growing environment of cooperation, innovation, and economic opportunity across the region.