MANILA, Philippines – The opening of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) will drive up growth and development in Eastern Luzon, a zone official said.
“With APECO, Aurora opens up itself to trade and business opportunities from the Pacific shipping routes, in the process adjoining landlocked provinces longing for growth. APECO is committed in its conviction to bring development to underserved areas of Northeast Luzon that have been neglected for decades,” APECO deputy administrator Ramon T. Fernando said.
With the increase in demand of local products and services, along with the vision to build infrastructures and upgrade technology, investors will be attracted to the region. Add to it the benefit that job-seeking locals of the area will get to enjoy once the ball starts rolling, Fernando said.
According to him, APECO’s construction is already showing signs of leapfrog modernization with the completion of its administration building in March and the completion of a 50-room hotel by September 2011.
Being environment-friendly, Fernando said APECO is opposed to industries that may cause pollution to its surroundings. In one case, it rejected an interested locator wanting to build a steel smelting plant. Preserving the ecology is obviously its main thrust for selecting developers expressing desire to build business in the ecozone.
Even with APECO’s presence and activity, he said Casiguran’s reputation as rice exporter will remain intact. Land conversions, as spearheaded by APECO, will increase overall value, enhance productivity, and create new sources of livelihood.
“Naturally APECO vows to even enhance food security and promote year-long agriculture production through modern industry practices, aquaculture technologies and the improvement of the skills of farmers and fisherfolks,” Fernando said.
According to studies, Pacific Ocean will re-emerge as the premier maritime route and the most important global freight connection in the coming years, what with Atlantic trade already waning and the South China Sea becoming dangerous and politically volatile. Growing trade among China, Russia, Brazil, Argentina and other South American countries are expected to increase in the future along with the demand for hub-ports for regional container transshipment traffic. Interestingly, such hub-ports will connect Southeast Asia ‘s 1.5 billion inhabitants through feeder services to main shipping routes.