GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Investors from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan are eyeing business ventures with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Mindanao region.

DA Regional Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said Dr. Maher Kheder, chief executive officer of East Asia Development and Agricultural Investment Company based in Saudi Arabia, visited the region recently to scout for some 500 hectares of land that will be developed into a plantation of jasmine rice, high-value tropical fruits, and vegetables.

Keder together with some DA officials visited South Cotabato and the corn post-harvest trading and processing center in Malungon, Sarangani.

On the other hand, Masayoshi Nakatani, a senior consultant of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), also visited the region to evaluate the livestock artificial insemination program and promotion of native chicken raising.

Datukan said Nakatani has assured that the JICA will be providing multi-million-peso funding assistance for the projects.

JICA is an independent government agency that provides economic assistance to accelerate social growth and international cooperation in developing countries.