By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – Malaysia seeks to add more flight connections with the Philippines, particularly in Davao and Mindanao, as bilateral trade and tourism continue to expand between the two nations, which are both under the BIMP–EAGA umbrella.
Malaysian Consul General in Davao City Deddy Faisal Bin Ahmad Salleh said that they are working with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) and the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) to have Davao-Malaysia-Davao direct flights.
“There are many opportunities for both countries. There is a commercial sector. Carrying business would be easy if we had regular flights between Malaysia and the Southern Philippines. We could also increase tourism in Malaysia, Davao City, and other parts of Mindanao,” Salleh said.
Salleh cited that they had medical tourism and commendable hospitals in Malaysia with the same world-class medical facilities and competitive rates as Singapore, where residents from Mindanao could visit for medical check-ups and treatment.
He also expressed interest in creating more Halal industry in Davao and Mindanao, with Malaysia having a solid mixture in Halal. Salleh said their country would also like to bring its digital economy, technical and vocational education training, and green technology like solar farms here.
“Davao City is the economic hub of Mindanao. People had a negative impression when they heard about Mindanao 20 years ago. After declaring the Davao Region insurgency-free, I heard reports in Kuala Lumpur that Davao is safe. We want our people to get to know Davao City more,” Salleh said.
Salleh narrated that many Malaysians, mostly businessmen, are familiar with Luzon, particularly Manila, but Davao City and Mindanao have less exposure. He said his job is to expose Davao and Mindanao to Malaysia and vice versa.
“I have been a diplomat in several countries, and we have tried our best to explore the market. We study how we can mesh our expertise with the local. You know, Malaysia is one of the Top 20 in the world’s economy, and the Philippines is our closest neighbor in ASEAN,” he said.
Salleh also clarified that Malaysia does not compete with other countries or business sectors in a globalized economy. He said they only complement others towards a better economy for everyone’s benefit.
Malaysian Consul in Davao City Ahmadulkuddus Husain said Malaysia looks forward to doing more business and strengthening the Halal sector collaboration with Davao City, other parts of Mindanao, and the entire Philippines.
Husain said that Mindanao is very close to their heart. He added that it has a huge prospect for business activities as a fruit basket of the Philippines, and that they wish to build up a relationship with the Southern Philippines under the guidance of Consul-General Deddy to boost the bilateral trade and economy of the two countries.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), operating under the trade promotion agency of the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), established a significant presence in Davao City through its Market Immersion Mission last month.
Husain said the initiative had designated Davao as one of their smart cities in the Philippines, alongside the capital region, Manila. He added that Malaysia aims to boost its presence in the area and help make the Philippines more sustainable and transformative.
The Consulate of Malaysia in Davao City is also looking forward to continuing peace in Mindanao so that more foreign investors will be interested in visiting and seeking opportunities to help the entire Mindanao grow.