7 agro ecozones eyed in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said it has endorsed seven pilot Agro-Economic Zones (AEZ) in southern Philippines to prospective local and foreign investors through Public-Private Partnership.

Joan Barrera, chief of the MinDA’s Development Division, said the selected pilot areas are in Agusan del Sur, Basilan, and Zambo Sibugay as Agro-Processing Zone; Maguindanao as Agro-Economic Zone; Zamboanga del Norte as Agro-Aqua Ecozone; Lanao del Sur, Agri-Industrial and Tourism; and Zamboanga del Sur as Agro-Eco Industrial Park.

Barrera said a Malaysian investor is already doing a feasibility study in Lanao del Sur. She said AEZs aim to position Mindanao as a single and highly-integrated economy that is able to leverage and fully participate in economic groupings such as the BIMP-EAGA, ASEAN Economic Community and the rest of the global economic communities. (Digna Banzon)

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