DAVAO CITY — Damosa Land Inc. (DLI) is aiming to complete the development of the 63-hectare Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) economic zone within the next two years and is now fast-tracking the construction of additional facilities.
“It’s hard to woo investors when you sell only a plan. Showing concrete progress in the site is a big advantage for AIE (Corp.) to close the deals with the investors,” Ricardo F. Lagdameo, DLI first vice president, told BusinessWorld in an email interview.
The next phases of development for the ecozone, which broke ground in Feb. 2016, include cold storage facilities, more warehouses, and another commercial building.
The AIE is adjacent to the Davao International Container Terminal, which is also owned by Anflo Management and Investment Corp., the parent company of DLI.
“There is enough interest in the market for industrial lots,” he said, citing inquiries from foreign business delegations such as from Taiwan, China and Japan.
“We would like to see a good mix of investors,” Mr. Lagdameo said, noting that their focus is manufacturing and other light industries, particularly those related to the agro-industrial sector.
Last Oct. 4, a group of Japanese investors, organized by the Office of the Consul General of Japan and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce-Mindanao, visited the economic zone located in Panabo City, Davao del Norte to assess the possibility of expanding their business in the Davao Region.
The visit followed the holding of the Japanese Business Seminar in Davao City as part of the commemoration of the 100th year of Japanese presence in this part of the country.
Japanese Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa said during the business forum that there is serious interest among Japanese investors, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
“We just have to create a strategy,” said Mr. Miwa.
Among the companies currently setting up operations in the economic zone is Japanese firm Packwell, Inc., which manufactures paper-based packaging and containers.
Other companies that have located in AIE include Del Monte Fresh Produce Philippines, First Panabo Tropical Foods Corp., Phildutch Polymer Inc., Davao Packaging Corp., CAMECO Realty Development, PMR Pallet Ltd. Co., Fermon Corp., Southern Harvest, and Lane Holdings, Inc. — Carmelito Q. Francisco
