Russian airline set to establish routes in South

Mindanao’s airline and tourism industry takes another big leap as a Filipino-Russian-owned airline company, Mosphil Aero Inc., gears up in establishing new direct flights to the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the Republic of Palau.

Mosphil Aero Inc. president Ibragim Sharifkulov said the airline company is putting up international and domestic flights that will primarily service passenger and cargo traffic in the region.

"Our expansion in Mindanao is part of the company’s mission to provide air travel and cargo services to potential tourist destinations in the Philippines needing reliable means of transportation," he said.

Sharifkulov identified Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and Davao as key areas being targeted by Mosphil Aero in Mindanao.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said establishing more domestic and international air links is vital in accelerating economic activities and promoting tourism in the entire Mindanao.

"Mindanao is a strategic place for airline investments due to the increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists and investors along with the existing BIMP-EAGA economic cooperation," he said.

Dureza said the government and the business sector are working closely to promote flights within the four member-countries of the BIMP-EAGA.

At present, the BIMP-EAGA roadmap to development aims to increase trade, investment and tourism in the sub-regional cooperation within five years.

Specifically, by 2010, the BIMP-EAGA roadmap is poised to increase intra and extra trade among BIMP-EAGA focus areas by 10 percent, investments by 10 percent, and tourism movement by 20 percent.

The BIMP-EAGA was created in March 1994 to increase trade, tourism and investments among the member-countries of the growth polygon with Mindanao and Palawan among the key focus areas for cooperation.