The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is courting American and Canadian investors for defense-related industries, clean energy and data center projects at its 12,923-hectare ecozone in Casiguran, Aurora, as the Philippines seeks to expand investment links across the Indo-Pacific.
APECO President and CEO Gil G. Taway IV is leading an investment mission to the United States from October 24 to 30, followed by meetings in Canada from November 2 to 6. The delegation is scheduled to hold investment briefings, site visits and business meetings in Texas, Maryland and Washington, D.C., before proceeding to Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary.
The agency is promoting the zone’s Pacific-facing location and fiscal and non-fiscal incentives under the CREATE MORE Act. It also plans to sign agreements covering proposed liquefied natural gas power generation and substation facilities, alongside defense-related economic activities.
“As a Pacific-facing ecozone, we can be a reliable investment location for investors looking to establish presence in the Philippines, access the broader region, and take advantage of the two major economies’ multimillion-dollar Indo-Pacific strategies,” Taway said.
In the US, APECO is following up on initial discussions with defense company Anglicotech LLC and consulting firm Valent. It is also engaging the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas and the US-Philippines Society.
In Canada, investment briefings in Montreal and Calgary are expected to attract about 100 business representatives from infrastructure, energy, mining, critical minerals, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and logistics.
APECO is positioning Casiguran as a potential complement to the Luzon Economic Corridor, offering an alternative investment location on the country’s eastern seaboard with maritime access to Pacific markets.
The missions come as the agency seeks to translate its geographic advantages and investment incentives into concrete projects. Their impact, however, will depend on whether discussions and proposed agreements lead to firm commitments, financing and actual development of the ecozone.
