THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) is seeking Alberta-based energy companies to develop power projects for its planned industrial hub in eastern Luzon, as it pitches investment opportunities in Canada this week.
Apeco President and Chief Executive Officer Gil G. Taway IV said the agency is looking for Canadian companies with expertise in energy development to supply the ecozone’s future power requirements.
‘As we build a self-sustaining ecozone on the eastern seaboard of Luzon, we need reliable and sustainable power, which Canadian businesses, especially those in Alberta, can help us set up given their expertise in energy,’ Taway said.
The agency kicked off its Canadian investment roadshow on Monday in Montreal and will meet Alberta-based investors in Calgary on November 5.
The briefings are part of Apeco’s effort to attract investors for its planned defense and clean energy hubs.
Beyond energy, the agency is also pitching opportunities in defense infrastructure, manufacturing and supply chains. The campaign will be tied to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, backed by an initial CAD2.3-billion (P105-billion) commitment.
Further, the roadshow follows President Marcos’s July 1 to 4 official visit to Canada, where he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss bilateral economic and defense cooperation.
The two countries have since moved forward with several defense agreements. In May, Canada’s Minister of International Trade identified air and maritime defense, cybersecurity, land systems, defense procurement and supply chains as potential areas of cooperation.
Moreover, the Philippines and Canada signed a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement in June, followed by the Philippine Senate’s ratification of their Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in August.
About 100 business executives and representatives from the infrastructure, energy, mining, critical minerals, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and logistics sectors are expected at the roadshows.
‘This initiative will strengthen our engagement with Canadian investors, open new avenues for business partnerships, and generate investments that support the Philippines’ economic growth,’ Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga said.