Clark cited again as ‘Global Free Zones of the Future’

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Freeport has again landed on the pages of Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine as one of the Top Global Free Zones of the future for 2012/13.

In 2010, fDi Magazine, published by the prestigious London-based The Financial Times Business Group, has also cited Clark and its potentials as a world-class economic haven.

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Chairman and Officer-In-Charge Eduardo Oban, Jr. said this Freeport ranked number eight in the magazine’s list of global Freeport zones in the world. Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dafza) topped this year’s list followed by UAE-based Dubai International Financial Centre in second place and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in China for the third spot.

The other companies in the top 10 list are Iskandar in Malaysia, DuBiotech in UAE, Tanger Free Zone in Morocco, Freeport of Ventspils in Latvia, Chittagong Export Processing Zone in Bangladesh, and UAE-based Dubai Media City.

The Clark Freeport also ranked third in fDi Magazine’s top five best airport zones in the world. First on the list is Dubai Airport Free Zone followed by Tanger Free Zone in Morocco. The fourth spot was awarded to Mauritius Freeport in Mauritius while tied in fifth place are Salalah Free Zone in Oman and Bahrain International Airport in Bahrain.

The magazine said at least 600 free zones across 120 countries were invited by fDi to complete a survey requesting both qualitative and quantitative data regarding their free zones. The information collected was set under five categories: incentives, facilities, cost-effectiveness, transportation and best FDI promotion.

Read complete story from Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine

Express Airport Train Stopovers Identified

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — The high-speed train system visualized to link the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City Manila, and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga, will have stopovers in Quezon City, Manila and Makati City, as revealed yesterday by Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Passengers coming in and out of DMIA in Clark will soon enjoy a hassle-free 45-minute travel to NAIA and the rest of Metro Manila via the proposed high-speed train system.

MPIC plans to use the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway to accommodate the envisioned train system without having to forgo the travel time between the two international airports.

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) said the venture will be identified as “Express Airport Trains” which will have the following stopovers: Balintawak or near TriNoMa or SM North in Quezon City; Dimasalang or near the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila; and possibly Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia) in Makati City.

The proposal is to construct the new railways between the lanes of the NLEx, a revised schema from the earlier plan to construct it parallel to the railway due to some technical inconveniences.

CIAC said that using the projected trains, it will only take about 45 minutes to transport passengers from Clark Pampanga to Manila, and vice versa.

The railways project is expected to be forged through Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Landco Pacific Corporation (Landco).

Pangilinan is the Chairman of the Metro Pacific Investments, Corp. that operates and manages the NLEx.

In the interim, top government officials in Central Luzon have reiterated their call for President Benigno “PNoy” Aquino III to pursue the plans of developing the DMIA as a premier international airport in the Philippines.

Clark council, CDC gear for 2012 ConEx

CLARK FREEPORT – The Metro Clark ICT Council and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) are preparing for the 2012 Clark ConEx International ICT Conference and Expo, a gathering of the country’s top leaders and major stakeholders in the Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry to be held here on Oct. 10-11.

Spearheaded by the Metro Clark ICT Council, the 2012 ConEx aims to replicate last year’s feat that brought together close to 4,000 participants. The council also “Promises to reach out to an even larger global audience by actively supporting and presenting in the International Outsourcing Summit…”

Metro Clark ICT President Frankie Villanueva said this year’s event would feature a business networking conference, ICT (Information and Communications Technology) stakeholders’ exhibit, ICT council’s capability exhibit, investment site tours, DOST-convergence technology roadshow, talent development conference, academic competitions, and leisure and tourism packages.

Villanueva said the annual holding of the ConEx is one of the council’s flagship projects geared to make the Clark Freeport as the country’s foremost IT and BPO destination.

With the regular hosting of the event, Villanueva said ConEx may also help encourage other IT and BPO companies to bring their businesses to the provinces, particularly those in the Central Luzon region, to decongest employment seekers jostling for job openings in Metro Manila.

For inquiries, sponsorships and promotional opportunities email metroclarkict@gmail.com.

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