Taking advantage of the looming realization of the Philippine-European Union Free Trade Agreement, top officials of the government-owned and controlled corporation Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) are set to travel to Spain and Portugal in November to attract investors and forge stronger economic ties.

On 7 July, APECO president and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV expressed his intention to court Spanish and Portuguese investors after meeting 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 during the celebration of the 23rd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day in Baler, Aurora.

PCEO Taway conveyed to the Spanish envoy his hopes of securing support for the ecozone’s big-ticket infrastructure projects—namely, the Casiguran Seaport and the APECO Airport.

The mission is part of APECO’s ongoing push to strengthen partnerships with global stakeholders, attract foreign direct investments, and position the ecozone as a new strategic transshipment hub in Southeast Asia.

Taway emphasized that the mission will spotlight the ecozone’s development-ready sites, investor incentives, and emerging opportunities in key sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, logistics, and defense.

For its outbound mission, APECO plans to conduct 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,” 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 also noted that APECO’s ongoing transformation under the "Bagong APECO" agenda prioritizes transparency, accountability, and inclusive growth — values that resonate with European investors seeking ethical and sustainable business destinations.

The investment mission further 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.and the greater Luzon corridor.