Thursday, January 25, 2007 Korean investors eye business in Malita By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
SEVERAL Korean investors have shown keen interest in doing business in Malita, the first class municipality in Davao del Sur, which is fast becoming an investment haven.
Leonardo Baldoza Jr., Malita investment and promotions officer, said among those who expressed his desire to invest in Malita is the father of actress-singer Sanadara Park.
Baldoza said Sanadara's father visited Malita recently and was impressed by its climate.
"The Koreans are eyeing to invest here. They know it pays to invest in Malita," Baldoza told Sun.Star Davao.
With the completion of the rehabilitation of the Malalag-Malita-Jose Abad Santos Road last year and the creation of the Malita Special Economic Zone, investors are indeed keeping their eye on the municipality.
"I'm very sure investors will be coming in," said Alona Estrella-Lagat, municipal information officer, during the "Kapihan sa Malita" recently.
Malita Vice Mayor Allan Colina said with an aggressive promotion, the municipality will soon emerge as an investment paradise in the Pacific.
The MSEZ has 15 project components with a cost of $1.4 billion.
The major components include an international seaport and an international airport. An electric power plant and a sports complex is also being eyed to be built.
The MSEZ project site is around 1,217 hectares and straddles three barangays, namely Tubalan, Buhangin and Lacaron.
The Tubalan Cove, with its calm waters and a wide entry, is an ideal site for the seaport.
Baldoza said Hanjin of Korea had initially expressed interest in undertaking some of the projects under the MSEZ.
The Switzerland-based Universal Investment Trust or UIT has also expressed desire to undertake the proposed airport, which would be named the Benjamin C. Bautista Sr. International Airport.
Baldoza said people from UIT are coming back anytime this year to resume their site inspection.
