ARMM joins APEC activity

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) high-level dialogue on inclusive business on Thursday, an official said.The ARMM was represented by laywer Ishak Mastura, chairman and managing head of the ARMM Regional Board of Investments (RBOI).Mastura said that asa concrete manifestation of the Philippine government’s commitment to inclusive economic growth through the inclusive business model, the autonomous region has been included among the delegates. APEC is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. TheAPEC High Level Dialogue on Inclusive Businesshas a theme, Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better the World”. Mastura described the inclusive business model” as a commercially viable and innovative private sector approach that provides, either at scale or scalable – goods, services, or livelihood opportunities for the low income segment as part of the company’s core business. He stressed this was the first time the ARMM has been included in a high level APEC-initiated activity. Without healthy economic growth in the ARMM, being the poorest region with some of the poorest provinces in the country, the Philippines cannot truly say that there is inclusive growth. But lately things have been on the mend for the ARMM and inclusive growth for the whole country is now becoming a reality,” he explained. For one, he said that this year alone, ARMM investments reachedP6.1 billion, following strong investment growth ofP3.8 billionin 2014 andP1.4 billionin 2013. The lawyer credited the strong investment growth in the ARMM to the peace and stability brought about by the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.