India’s Kiri Industries Limited (KIL) and Philippine mining firm Makilala Mining Company Inc. are discussing to explore potential partnership for an integrated copper smelting, refining, and fertilizer production facility in the country.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque said in a statement that the expression of interest was conveyed during a meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and KIL Chairman and Managing Director Manish Kiri, along with the company’s senior executives at the Taj West End, Bengaluru, India.
KIL Chairman and Managing Director Manish Kiri said the Philippines presents an ideal environment for this long-term venture.
Secretary Roque also said that the potential partnership is more than just capital infusion. She said the project aligns with the country’s broader goals of industrial transformation, job creation, and agricultural resilience.
The potential investment will complement the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments’ (DTI-BOI) Green Metals initiative, which leverages the Philippines’ rich mineral resources, including copper, nickel, and cobalt, to develop responsible and sustainable processing industries that support the global shift to clean energy.
“This has the potential to become a legacy investment that transforms our critical minerals sector into a value-adding, job-generating, and agriculture-supporting engine for national growth. Kiri’s vision is in line with our Bagong Pilipinas agenda — it is green, inclusive, and deeply connected to the development of our rural communities,” said Secretary Roque.
Once realized, the investment is expected to strengthen the critical minerals value chain while simultaneously providing direct benefits to the local agricultural industry.
