T he Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is regaining investor confidence with at least five fresh commitments, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to use regional economic zones as growth engines.

APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said the agency is delivering on the vision of President Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2022 that ecozones will be a catalyst of development outside the National Capital Region.

To date, two out of five firms in the advanced stage of investment plans are expected to break ground in the coming months.

These include the 16.8-megawatt solar project of Pacific Impact and financial technology company Aurum, whose operations involve tokenizing gold.

Also, investors expected to come in within this year include a jobs training center with Australian equity, a global workspace management firm, and a medical equipment supplier.

Foreign investors are also exploring opportunities in developing critical infrastructure inside the ecozone including the APECO Airport and the Casiguran Seaport.

“These investments show APECO is back on the map, not just as an ecozone, but as a growth catalyst for Northern Aurora and nearby areas,” PCEO Taway said.