The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has pitched its ecozone to Indonesian businesses as a strategic gateway to East Asia and the U.S. West Coast.
On Saturday, APECO hosted its first APECO Business Forum in Pasay City with a delegation from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).
APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway IV said the location in Casiguran, Aurora, gives Indonesian exporters a direct and cost-efficient entry point to Northeast Asia and the U.S. West Coast.
“Your nearest gateway facing Japan, Korea and the United States West Coast is in APECO,” Taway said. “Our ecozone sits at the heart of the Indo-Pacific Corridor, reducing both cost and time in moving goods to these key markets.”
Taway said the ecozone can provide an alternative maritime route amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and global trade disruptions, offering access with the advantage of stronger supply chains to the northern Pacific and diversified export routes.
He cited the complementary strengths of the two countries, with Indonesia providing minerals and agricultural resources and Aurora offering fisheries, coconut plantations and direct access to the Pacific.
Opportunities include cold storage, canning, halal food processing and coconut-based products for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. APECO is also being positioned for renewable energy projects such as solar, tidal and wind farms, and as a hub for defense and logistics in support of the Philippines’ modernization program.
“Together, we can open new markets, create jobs, and write a new chapter in Indonesia-Philippine relations,” Taway said. “APECO is your new gateway to the Pacific.”
Created in 2007, APECO has faced controversies over stalled projects, governance disputes and land issues. Taway, who took office in October 2023, acknowledged the setbacks but framed them as “the starting point for change.”
He reported that management has revived nearly P800 million worth of long-abandoned projects, including a central water supply system, reservoir, sewage treatment plant, fire station and underground power lines. New facilities such as a super health center, materials recovery facility and motor pool have also been completed.
