THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) is undertaking a two-week trade and investment mission to the United States and Canada for defense-related industries, clean energy, and data centers.
Apeco president and CEO Gil Taway IV will lead the delegation, which will promote the agency’s 12,923-hectare ecozone in Casiguran, Aurora, through investment briefings, site visits, and government-to-business meetings.
The US leg, which covers Texas, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., runs Oct. 24-30, followed by Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary in Canada on Nov. 2-6.
Apeco said it hopes to sign agreements on financing and installation of a liquefied natural gas-fired power facility, as well as defense-related economic activities in the ecozone.
The delegation will also follow up on initial talks with US defense company Anglicotech LLC and global consulting firm Valent.
Roundtable discussions and networking receptions are likewise scheduled with the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas, the US-Philippines Society, and Planate Management Group.
In Canada, Apeco wants to engage about 100 business executives in infrastructure, energy, defense, critical minerals, manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics.
The agency is promoting the ecozone’s Pacific Ocean-facing location and maritime access to markets in North America, East Asia and Oceania. It said the zone could serve as an alternative or complementary hub to the Luzon Economic Corridor.
Taway said the ecozone’s location aligns with US and Canadian efforts to promote an open and more connected Indo-Pacific.
Apeco will also highlight expanded fiscal and non-fiscal incentives under the Create More Act.
The mission is supported by Philippine embassies, consulates, and trade and investment centers in both countries.
Other partners include the Asian Consulting Group, whose founder, Mon Abrea, is joining the delegation; the Government of Alberta; Calgary Economic Development; Canadian law firm Fasken; and the HEC Montreal Entrepreneurship Hub. Giselle Jordan
