ARUZE, GENTING, SM, BLOOMBERRY,
GLOBAL TO INVEST $3B EACH
Pagcor unveils $15B gaming projects
By GENIVI FACTAO
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) yesterday unveiled four gaming and tourism projects near the Manila Bay and the international airport that will reach $15 billion.
Pagcor chairman and CEO Efraim Genuino said the companies are Aruze Corp. of Japan, Genting Berhad Group from Malaysia, SM Investments Corp. and Bloombery of Australia and Global Alliance with Star Cruises.
Each group will invest up to $3 billion and create 250,000 new jobs for the giant entertainment complex off Manila Bay and adjacent to the SM Mall of Asia.
Initially their investment would amount to $7 billion to $10 billion in 3 to 5 years. Construction is expected to start on the third quarter. The groundbreaking ceremony is set today.
Aruze Corp in a tie-up with Wynn Resorts, operator of Las Vegas and Macau casinos will build the Okada Resort Manila Bay including a casino with 2,000 room hotel, an oceanarium, and a giant Ferris wheel that will be known as the Manila Eye, after the London Eye.
Genting Berhad and Star Cruises will partner with Global Alliance, owner of McDonald’s Philippine franchise and Megaworld Properties will develop the Bagong Nayong Pilipino theme park.
SM will be building near the Mall of Asia a world class gaming facility in partnership with Asia Pacific Gaming from Australia. It also plans to construct a major luxury hotel to be managed by Radisson Hotels and Resorts.
Bloombery on the other hand, will be building 3 luxury hotels with a total capacity of 1,500 rooms with high end retail shopping, celebrity themed dining and a major entertainment and sports center.
Kazuo Okada, chairman of Aruze said "the most important thing in this investment is to attract all the people in the world and make them feel the fun and have pleasant experience We are pleased to have the opportunity to be involved in this area," Okada said.
Andrew MacDonald, executive vice president said the most important thing is to identify the market, plans, analyze, conduct research, test and modify the plans when needed.
"We recognize the partnership. We worked with the government to make sure that the operations are good for the community so the government may be proud of the development that we bring forward," MacDonald said adding that "it takes a strong and powerful regulatory body to move these things forward."
Genuino said the signing of the contract is expected to commence as early as second quarter of the year, after the proponents have submitted all the requirements.
The gaming and entertainment complex will be initially built across the 90- hectares of prime reclaimed land on the world-renowned Manila Bay.
The Star-Global partnership will see the cruise and gaming operator paying $335 million for half of an Alliance unit.
Star Cruises will buy half of Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, which has applied for a provisional gaming licence, with an eye to developing hotel and gambling resorts at the Philippines’ Newport City, adjacent to Manila’s airport.
In addition, Star Cruises plans to form a joint venture with Travellers — of which Star plans to own 40 percent — to develop another project in Pagcor City, which is nestled up against Manila Bay.