The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is promoting itself as a site for US defense sector investments, citing its strategic location on the country’s eastern seaboard.
APECO presented its pitch during meetings with a US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) delegation that visited the Philippines from Aug. 11 to 14. The visit coincided with the U.S. Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) Mission.
During a reception hosted by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway showcased the ecozone’s potential as a hub for warehousing, expansion projects, and defense-related services like ship and aircraft maintenance, repair and operations (MRO).
“APECO offers a strategic location where U.S. defense companies can grow, not in competition with Subic, but in complement to it,” Taway said.
“Together, these zones can reinforce the Philippines’ role in regional security and economic resilience,” he said.
He said APECO’s direct access to the Pacific makes it a “natural gateway” for logistics and defense-related operations, aligning with the Philippines’ broader security and economic strategies.
The authority’s key assets include an operating airstrip and a natural harbor facing the Pacific Ocean. APECO is also working to secure a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to support MRO activities for aircraft.
The US-ABC mission brought together leading companies to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines, a country seen as a key player in regional security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
 is promoting itself as a hub for US defense and aerospace investments, leveraging its strategic location on the Pacific coast.){kind=link}