ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will officially start this month its barter enterprise with Malaysia as a result of the successful trading arrangement inked last week with the Sandakan-based group of entrepreneurs.
Rosslani Alonto-Sinarambo, executive director of the ARMM Economic Zone Authority, said a memorandum of understanding has already been signed between ARMM and Malaysia.
“Expectedly, any day now our maiden voyage with Malaysia via the Sandakan Port would start,” Alonto-Sinarimbo said.
Speaking to reporters, she said that the regional government has already contracted a cargo vessel that would bring in Malaysian preferred agricultural products.
ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the city of Marawi.
Even before the ARMM was established 21 years ago, barter trading between Mindanao and Malaysia had been in existence, according to lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, ARMM executive secretary.
He said the revival of the centuries-old barter trading with Asian neighbors particularly Malaysia, would signal the reopening of the Polloc port in Parang, Maguindanao.
The port, the gateway to the ARMM, has been officially declared by Acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong as a “free port.”
Sinarimbo said Gov. Adiong has ordered provincial officials in the region to explore what the inland provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur could offer for barter.
Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, known producers of sea foods could offer these high value products to Malaysia and neighboring countries.
Both officials could not specifically say, as of yet, what Malaysian products will come to ARMM as a result of barter trading. (DZT/PIA9-BST/rvc)
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