From left to right, La Cámara Executive Director Ascension Lillo-Martin, APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Miguel Utray Delgado, and Department of Education Director Lucio Jesus S. Abalos during the celebration of the 23rd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day in Baler, Aurora on July 7, 2025.
(8 July, 2025, Baler, Aurora) — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is set to embark on an investment mission to Spain and Portugal this November to attract European investors and forge stronger economic ties ahead of the anticipated Philippine-European Union Free Trade Agreement (PH-EU FTA).
During the celebration of the 23rd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day in Baler, Aurora on July 7, APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV met with Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Miguel Utray Delgado and La Cámara (Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines) Executive Director Ascension Lillo-Martin.
PCEO Taway conveyed to the Spanish envoy the investment promotion agency’s plan to hold a business mission to Spain and Portugal later this year in hopes of finding investors for the economic zones’ big ticket infrastructure projects namely the Casiguran Seaport and the APECO Airport.
The mission forms part of APECO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with global stakeholders, invite foreign direct investments, and position the ecozone as a new strategic transhipment hub in Southeast Asia.
The APECO chief emphasized that the mission will showcase the ecozone’s development-ready sites, investment incentives, and emerging opportunities in key sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, logistics, and defense.
For its outbound mission, APECO eyes to engage in investor roundtables, and meetings with chambers of commerce, development partners, and government officials in both countries.
“This mission is part of APECO’s preparation to take full advantage of the opportunities the PH-EU Free Trade Agreement will unlock. By strengthening linkages with Spain and Portugal, nations with a rich history of trade and innovation and globally recognized leadership in port operations and development, we aim to position APECO as a transshipment hub for European businesses looking to expand into the ASEAN region,” PCEO Taway said.
Last month, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Allan Gepty led the Philippine delegation to Brussels for the third round of PH-EU FTA negotiations.
PCEO Taway noted that APECO’s ongoing transformation under the "Bagong APECO" agenda prioritizes transparency, accountability, and inclusive growth, which are values that resonate with European investors seeking ethical and sustainable business destinations.
The investment mission also reinforces President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s broader agenda of leveraging economic zones to drive countryside development while aligning with global trade dynamics.
APECO’s planned visit to Europe marks another milestone in its commitment to revitalize the ecozone, attract foreign investments, and create more economic opportunities for Aurora and the greater Luzon corridor.
