President Arroyo is scheduled to meet with giant Australian mining companies including Billiton to sell the Philippines’ rich mining sites.

Chris Ward, vice president of the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (ANZCham), said Arroyo is keen for Billiton to proceed with its plan to invest $800 million to $1.5 billion to mine nickel in Pujada, Davao.

Arroyo will visit Australia and New Zealand at the end of the month.

BHP Billiton in partnership with local firms Hallmark Mining Corp and AustralAsia Link Mining Corp have conducted prelimary works on the area with estimated deposits of 150 million metric tons.

Mining experts see Arroyo’s discussions with BHP Billiton as a big push for the investment to materialize.

"She is expected to encourage more mining investments including those in the downstream industry," Ward said.

He added that the President while in Australia will also explore investment in the hospitality and medical tourism.

Arroyo is also expected to encourage the inflow of investment from the hydroelectric and geothermal sectors.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is interested in building a six-star luxury hotel in Bonifacio Global City according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said.

BCDA president and chief executive officer Narciso Abaya said that in a preliminary presentation to the BCDA board held last May 15, the Shangri-la group proposed to build a six-star luxury hotel at a 1.2-hectare property of the BCDA.

The lot is also the area reportedly being eyed by US-based Trump Group headed by real estate and entertainment tycoon Donald Trump.

BCDA chairman Aloysius Santos noted that the presentation was on a no-commitment basis.

"No decision has been made. The BCDA board is mapping out an action plan for a transparent competitive selection process among the interested proponents," Santos said.