The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (APECO) is seeking to attract European investments in northeastern Luzon, with clean energy, digital connectivity and infrastructure among potential areas for cooperation, APECO President and CEO Gil Taway IV told NewsCentral on Thursday.
The investment push follows APECO’s meeting with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), which committed to promote the economic zone to European businesses and support efforts to attract investment and infrastructure development.
Taway said the discussions explored potential collaboration in the context of the Philippines-European Union free trade agreement, which reached a substantial agreement in September and is being finalized ahead of its formal conclusion.
Clean energy, digital connectivity targeted
Taway said clean energy, digital connectivity and infrastructure, among other areas, were identified as potential investment opportunities for European companies in APECO.
“The meeting focused on exploring collaboration,” Taway said.
The discussions also covered the possibility of developing an emerging trade route linking Asian and European markets, which Taway said could provide another avenue for commercial connections amid disruptions to traditional trade routes.
No specific European companies or investment projects have been identified, with further discussions needed to develop potential investment leads and projects.
ECCP to facilitate investor links
ECCP committed to become an advocacy partner for APECO and promote the economic zone as an investment destination for European businesses, Taway said.
“ECCP is committed to be an advocacy partner for APECO, promoting APECO as an investment destination for European businesses,” he said.
The chamber is expected to help introduce European businesses to APECO and facilitate investment discussions and business matching.
Taway said ECCP would also support APECO’s advocacy for infrastructure needed to spur development in northeastern Luzon and improve the area’s capacity to attract investors.
FTA could widen market opportunities
The APECO initiative comes as the Philippines and EU move toward formally concluding their FTA.
The European Union and the Philippines reached a substantial agreement on the FTA on September 22, following a call between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The two sides said the agreement is expected to create new opportunities for businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises, farmers and manufacturers, while strengthening and diversifying supply chains.
The agreement is now on a path toward formal conclusion, with the EU and Philippine negotiating teams instructed to finalize the deal as soon as possible.
The EU said the FTA is intended to deepen trade and investment ties, improve market access and strengthen supply-chain resilience. It also aims to support sustainable development and the clean and digital transitions.
For APECO, the prospective trade deal provides a broader market backdrop for attracting European investors, while the ECCP partnership could help turn the investment push into business introductions and potential project discussions.
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