Quatar, Dubai Royal Families To Lease Philippine Islands To Build Oil Refineries, Energy Centers
The Royal Families in Qatar and Dubai are looking to lease a
million hectares in different idle islands in the Philippines to set up
agro-forestry and agro-industrial zones, energy centers and refineries as well
as industrial cities as they seek to take advantage of the country’s strong
economic growth and attractive investment climate.
According to Charito B. Plaza, Director General of the
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), representatives from these families
would be in the country this week to explore opportunities that could be tapped
here and look at the islands where they could set up their proposed projects.
One of the personalities that PEZA was in talks with was
Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah of Qatar, Plaza added.
“They will be coming over, but this is all still in the
exploration stage. They want to see how our islands look like because some of
them have not been to the Philippines, but they’ve heard good stories about how
the Philippines is the best place to invest in because the government is supportive
and because we at PEZA provide many incentives for investors like income tax
holiday of up to eight years and exemptions in the importation of their capital
equipment,” she said.
“PEZA is now exploring the Middle East market. We visited
the royal families of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and they are all
interested to invest in the Philippines through the special economic zones of
PEZA. These Middle East investors are looking for areas to invest. They
actually want to lease one million hectares that they can develop into
agricultural ecozones and this is where they will be sourcing their
agricultural requirements,” Plaza said.
Aside from the different incentives from PEZA, they were
also offered a lease period of up to 75 years as provided by Philippine laws.
“The Middle East market is now our focus and this is timely
because of the independent policy of the President. We failed to realize this
is where the money is,” Plaza said.
She explained that the target now is to conduct an inventory
of all the islands and vacant lands that can be offered to investors, who are
mainly interested in the islands where they are planning to set up oil storage
terminals and refineries as well.
PEZA, which has already coordinated with the necessary
agencies, expects to come up with a list by January next year.
Quatar, Dubai Royal Families To Lease Philippine Islands To Build Oil Refineries, Energy Centers
Reviewed by Yen
on
December 08, 2016
Rating:
good for the economy but not for the environment..... can't imagine the chemicals and other by products on the oil and gas industry...
ReplyDeleteSana may mag start ng Solar power farms,less carbon imprint.Do you guys know that the Great Barrier Reef is gone?Industrialization is good ...but please,wag naman sa oil.
ReplyDelete