On August 23, APECO hosted the 1st APECO Business Forum in Pasay City, welcoming a delegation from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as guest of honor.
Gateway and alternative maritime route
APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said the ecozone’s location in Casiguran, Aurora offers Indonesian exporters a direct entry point to Northeast Asian and U.S. markets.
“Your nearest gateway facing Japan, Korea, and the United States West Coast is in APECO,” Taway told Indonesian executives. “APECO is located right at the center of the Indo-Pacific Corridor. Indonesian exporters therefore can significantly reduce both cost and time in moving goods to and from these key markets.”
He added that the ecozone can serve as an alternative maritime route amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and global trade disruptions.
Complementary strengths
The APECO chief highlighted potential synergies between the Philippines and Indonesia. While Indonesia has minerals and agricultural resources, Aurora offers fisheries, coconut plantations, and direct Pacific access.
Opportunities include:
cold storage, canning, and food processing with halal certification;
coconut-based additives, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals;
renewable energy projects such as solar, tidal, and wind farms;
defense and logistics hubs aligned with the Philippines’ modernization drive.
“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.”
From controversy to redemption
Created in 2007, APECO has faced years of controversy over stalled projects, governance disputes, and land issues. Taway, who assumed office in October 2023, admitted that the ecozone “was marred by unpleasant issues and by lack of clear direction.”
“But instead of being deterred, we embraced these realities as the starting point for change and treated them both as a challenge and an inspiration,” he said. “This is our story of redemption. From being single-handedly defined by POGO to now being redefined by a shared vision.”
He said management has revived nearly PHP800 million worth of abandoned projects, including a central water supply system, sewage treatment plant, fire station, and underground power lines. Newly completed facilities include a Super Health Center, Materials Recovery Facility, and motorpool.
Lawmaker’s support
Gatchalian praised APECO’s turnaround efforts, saying the ecozone is showing “rapid transformation and readiness.”
He said APECO’s strategy of positioning itself as a hub for food, energy, national security, and eco-tourism aligns with the socio-economic agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The takeaway
With its renewed push, APECO is seeking to shed its troubled past and reposition itself as a strategic Pacific gateway for trade, investment, and cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
