The 210-MW Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant Project is the biggest single foreign direct investment in 10 years in Misamis Oriental and Northern Mindanao, with a staggering cost of US$305 million in 2003.

Infrastructure and services sectors contributed more than 90 percent of the total investments from 2002 to 2006; the bulk of investments was in Cagayan de Oro. Major investments during these years include expansion of Pilipinas Kao, Limketkai Center and Capitol University Medical City. New investment projects include the 50-room Korean-owned Koresco Hotel and the continuous development of mixed-use property-development projects of Pueblo de Oro and Xavie Estates, and other high-end subdivisions.

The growing affluence and increasing market regional influence of Cagayan de Oro have attracted the retail giants SM City Cagayan de Oro, Robinsons, Savemore, and Ayala Centrio.