BENT on boosting the country’s bid to become one of the world’s big-time entertainment and gaming hubs, the government has awarded Japan’s Aruze Corp. the license to locate in the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City in Manila Bay.

In an interview, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) vice president for corporate affairs and spokesman Edward “Dodie” King said Aruze has already presented its concept, which will feature a hotel complex and themepark.

The company, he added, is prepared to invest $1 billion to implement the project within the Entertainment City. “From barren to bustling is the most appropriate way to describe that area,” King said.

Aruze is a leading manufacturer of pachinko, slot machines and other gaming products. It also holds licenses to both manufacture and distribute casino machines in the American states of Nevada, Mississippi and New Jersey.

Earlier, another locator in the Entertainment City, Travellers International Hotel Inc., said it may tap the debt market next year to raise funds for the Manila Bayshore Entertainment City, its most ambitious project to-date.

The company is a 50:50 joint venture between the Andrew Tan-led Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) and Star Cruses, Ltd. of Malaysia’s Genting Group.

AGI president Kingson Sian said borrowings could be an option for Travellers since it is currently debt free.

The joint venture has budgeted $1.1 billion to develop the Manila Bayshore, which forms part of the government’s 90-hectare Entertainment City.

Manila Bayshore is a large-scale, tourism-oriented project that will feature hotels, residentials, museum, theme park and retail spaces. King said the development will be implemented in phases.

 “Right now we are at the planning stage. Talks with an international theme park operator have also started,” said Sian, although he did not disclose details.

The Manila Bayshore project is expected to serve as a tourist gateway to the country. When their development project is completed, Travellers International and Star Cruises are planning to make Manila one of Star Cruises’ regular ports of call. --H.M. Reyes

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Aruze granted license for  Manila Bay development

BENT on boosting the country’s bid to become one of the world’s big-time entertainment and gaming hubs, the government has awarded Japan’s Aruze Corp. the license to locate in the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City in Manila Bay.

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