APECO to Pitch Energy Infrastructure Contracts to Alberta Firms in Canada
Key Takeaways
- •APECO will pitch Alberta energy companies on building power infrastructure for its Casiguran economic zone during the Alberta-Philippines Trade & Investment Event in Calgary on Nov. 5.
- •APECO President and CEO Gil G. Taway IV said the zone needs reliable and sustainable power, a factor prospective manufacturing, logistics and processing locators typically weigh before committing to a site.
- •The Aurora ecozone, created under Republic Act No. 9490 in 2007 and located 357 kilometers northeast of Manila, is being promoted as a future Pacific-facing shipping hub for Asia-Pacific and North American markets.
- •Taway framed the ecozone as a gateway for Canadian firms in critical infrastructure, clean energy, defense and supply-chain development, aligned with Canada's 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy committing an initial C$2.3 billion (about P105 billion).
- •Canada-Philippines bilateral merchandise trade reached C$3.2 billion in 2024, and any formal agreements from the Nov. 5 event would offer an early sign of the power-infrastructure pitch's progress.
THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) will pitch energy companies in the Canadian province of Alberta on building power infrastructure for its economic zone in Casiguran, Aurora.
In a statement issued on Monday, Nov. 2, the ecozone authority said it is set to participate in the Alberta-Philippines Trade & Investment Event in Calgary on Nov. 5.
"We need reliable and sustainable power, which Canadian businesses, especially those in Alberta, can help us set up given their expertise in energy," APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Gil G. Taway IV said.
Alberta, where Calgary is located, is Canada's leading energy-producing province, with established oil and gas industries alongside a growing clean-energy and clean-technology sector. For special economic zones like Aurora, securing dependable electricity is generally a foundational step, as prospective locators in manufacturing, logistics and processing typically weigh power availability before committing to a site.
The Aurora ecozone, created under Republic Act No. 9490 of 2007, lies 357 kilometers northeast of the Philippine capital. Its Pacific-facing location is being promoted as a future shipping hub for major Asia-Pacific and North American markets, a role that would rely on supporting infrastructure such as ports, warehousing and utilities being developed.
Mr. Taway said the ecozone also provides a gateway for Canadian firms to expand in the Philippines, especially in the development of critical infrastructure, clean energy, defense, and supply-chain networks.
"We see this as an opportunity to translate our countries' shared priorities into concrete investments that generate economic growth, strengthen regional connectivity and contribute to a more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific," he added.
Mr. Taway noted that APECO's investment initiatives are aligned with Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, announced in 2022, which commits an initial C$2.3 billion (about P105 billion) to strengthen economic ties, regional security and a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Global Affairs Canada reported that Canada-Philippines bilateral merchandise trade hit C$3.2 billion in 2024. Any formal agreements or follow-up commitments emerging from the Nov. 5 event would offer an early sign of how the power-infrastructure pitch progresses.
— Beatriz Marie D. Cruz / BusinessWorld
