A 18-man Chinese business group on Thursday expressed their interest in investing in the two cities and three municipalities under this province’s 2nd District.

Representatives of the local government units (LGUs) of Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal, Carmen, Braulio E. Dujali, and Sto. Tomas showcased their potential development projects to the Chinese investors.

The Chinese are from various business fields, such as manufacturing, fruit business, real estate, sporting goods companies, hotels, furniture, and agriculture.

In an interview, Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Alan Dujali said Thursday’s investment forum was the third under his district, after he participated in the 8th Business Cooperation Visit of the Chinese Entrepreneurs Commerce Club in March.

At that time, he said, several investors were willing to put up an industrial area if the LGU provides at least 100 hectares of land.

“They are looking for a big land area that can be planted with durian and aromatic coconut. It is in demand in China,” he said.

Dujali also expressed optimism that the investors would provide thousands of jobs if they had a business in the province.

“Our target next year is not less than PHP10 billion worth of investments. We are confident that we can hit our target,” he said.

Meanwhile, Braulio E. Dujali Mayor Leah Moral offered her town as a viable investment destination for large warehouses and tourism-related ventures.

“We have idle public lands ready for development. We will market it to the investors for they might be willing to finance the land development,” she said in a separate interview. (PNA)