Duterte made the call during the Davao Global Connect 2026: 1st Davao-Borneo Growth Corridor Forum held Friday, September 18, at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier in Davao City.
In his message, Duterte described Davao as a strategic gateway to the East ASEAN region and pointed to the city’s role in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), which was established in Davao City 32 years ago.
He said the city’s geographic separation from Borneo should not prevent closer cooperation, noting the shared cultural heritage, natural resources and maritime trading history of communities across the region.
“Today we come together to connect and collaborate,” Duterte said, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and linkages in promoting economic growth.
He also welcomed delegates from outside the subregion, including Japan, China, Canada, Timor-Leste, Nigeria and the United States, saying broader international participation could help expand opportunities beyond BIMP-EAGA.
Duterte urged government and business leaders to pursue initiatives that create investment opportunities and strengthen cross-border trade, which he said could contribute to socioeconomic development.
He further encouraged participants to explore business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) partnerships and urged them to consider Davao City as a venue for business and investment opportunities. City& Local Guides
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte
Facebook Conversations