APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV highlighted Casiguran, Aurora’s direct Pacific access as a competitive advantage, offering Indonesian exporters shorter shipping routes to Japan, Korea, and the U.S. West Coast.

“APECO is located at the center of the Indo-Pacific Corridor. For Indonesian exporters, this means reduced cost, faster delivery, and more resilient supply chains,” Taway said, noting the zone’s potential as an alternative maritime route amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

He pointed to complementarities between the two nations: Indonesia’s mineral and agricultural resources and Aurora’s fisheries, coconut plantations, and renewable energy prospects. Investment opportunities include cold storage, halal-certified food processing, coconut-based products, and green energy projects, as well as positioning APECO for defense logistics and eco-tourism.

Taway also addressed APECO’s past controversies, framing its turnaround as a “story of redemption.” Since taking office in 2023, he said management has revived nearly ₱800 million worth of abandoned infrastructure projects and delivered new facilities including a Super Health Center, sewage treatment plant, and underground power lines.

“For us, reform meant finishing what was left behind and building the confidence of our stakeholders. APECO is no longer defined by old issues—it is now redefined by a shared vision for growth,” Taway said.

Meanwhile, Senator Gatchalian lauded APECO’s transformation, saying its focus on food, energy, security, and eco-tourism aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s national development agenda.

“APECO is undergoing a rapid transformation and readiness,” the senator remarked.

A 55-member KADIN delegation, led by Chairman Anindya Bakrie, will visit Manila from August 21 to 23. The delegation comprises senior executives from key industries, including infrastructure, agriculture, food and beverage, healthcare, finance, mining, shipping, aviation, and technology. Adding to the forum’s significance, Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara, which manages USD 900 billion in assets, will also take part.

The forum will feature keynote addresses from Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Agus Widjojo and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Participation from Philippine government agencies underscores strong national and local support for the ecozone’s reset under “Bagong APECO.” The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will present updates on the APECO Airport development, while the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) will highlight plans for the Casiguran Seaport. The Provincial Government of Aurora will outline its priority investment projects, complemented by the regional offices of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which will share their ongoing initiatives in partnership with APECO.

“This is a historic moment for APECO. For the first time, we are receiving and hosting a foreign business mission. The trust and confidence shown by KADIN and its members reflect the growing recognition of Aurora and the eastern seaboard as an investment frontier,” said APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV.

The forum aims to identify synergies between APECO and Indonesian enterprises, particularly in seaport and airport infrastructure, the coconut and fisheries industries, eco-tourism development, renewable energy projects, and the ecozone’s emerging role as the Philippines’ first national defense hub. By positioning the Casiguran-based ecozone as a strategic staging point on the Pacific, APECO offers Indonesian firms a gateway for exports to Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

As an investment promotion agency, APECO emphasized its commitment to align local opportunities with regional and national priorities, ensuring that foreign partnerships foster inclusive growth for both Aurora and the country.

With its strategic location on the eastern seaboard, APECO envisions Aurora as a rising transshipment and logistics hub linking Southeast Asia with the wider Pacific region.

Dennis Anthony H. Uy joins 19 other distinguished luminaries of the business sector as directors of the PCCI. He will serve as the director of PCCI’s ICT Committee. 

“It’s my privilege to serve the country’s most influential business group. The voice of the private sector is never as important as it is today, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lend mine in the service of nation-building. I hope to bring my expertise in technology and digitalization to the table and steer crucial discussions shaping the future of innovation in the Philippines,” said Dennis Anthony Uy. 

“The PCCI has long treasured the valuable membership of Dennis. We’re thrilled to have him join us in the Board as he elevates his standing in the ICT and technology industries. It comes as no surprise to us that he has become such a powerful voice in these fields, given his deep knowledge of the Philippine technology landscape and years of experience in ICT,” noted Enunina “Nina” Mangio, the 2024 President of PCCI. 

“Dennis’ inclusion in our Board brings a technology-centric perspective into our discussions of topics of national interest. This is vital to us as PCCI prides itself in being a forward-looking organization that is in step with the times,” said PCCI Chairman of the Board George T. Barcelon. 

Uy is the co-Founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc., the fastest growing broadband operator in the Philippines and considered a maverick in the telecommunications and ICT space. He, together with his wife, Maria Grace Y. Uy catapulted Converge from a Pampanga-based technology provider to a fiber broadband powerhouse with a nationwide footprint. Today, the company’s fiber assets span more than 680,000 kilometers. 

In recognition of his gravitas in the ICT industry, President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. appointed Uy as Special Envoy to the Republic of Korea for Digital Transformation. Special envoys are agents appointed as a representative of a state leader on the basis of his expertise or specialty in a specific issue area. Given the global reputation of ROK as a technology leader, Uy serves as a crucial linchpin for the Philippine government’s digital transformation. 

Uy recently joined the PCCI Executive Committee in a courtesy call with President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo, during his state visit to the Philippines. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). Among the common areas of interest identified during the discussions were mining, transportation, information and communications technology (ICT) and the digital economy. The meeting was also attended by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual; the Minister for State-Owned Enterprise of Indonesia, Hon. Erick Thohir; and Philippine and Indonesian business representatives.

The PCCI awarded Dennis Anthony Uy with the Nation-Builders’ Award last December for his enduring contributions to advancing technology and innovation in the country.