A Japanese company plans to invest US$1.2 billion to redevelop the Philippines' General Santos International Airport into a global air cargo hub using artificial intelligence, reports the Philippines MindaNews.

Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao said Kazuo Sato, CEO of Sato Investments SPC, visited her office to discuss the project, which is expected to boost competitiveness and generate jobs. Tokushima Auction Market Co Ltd (TAM) confirmed its interest in building the facility with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the city government.

TAM said the hub will employ AI and digital technologies to revitalise agriculture, forestry and fisheries, while enhancing logistics. Plans include runways exceeding 3,200 metres, facilities for large cargo aircraft, dome-shaped cargo handling centres, LNG-based energy infrastructure, advanced navigation systems, and cold-chain storage with ultra-low temperature frozen capacity of 2,000 tons and chilled warehouses of 4,000 tons.

The company said US$650 million will go to construction costs. The project is projected to create 4,550 jobs, with the tuna industry expected to benefit from new cold storage facilities.

TAM also plans to establish an AI data centre at the airport to optimise cargo flow, forecast demand, improve quality control and enhance security. The redevelopment will be pursued under a Public-Private Partnership scheme.

General Santos International Airport, managed by CAAP, began operations in 1996 with a 3,227-metre runway funded largely by the US Agency for International Development.