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 Gears for ICT Confab, Expo

Preparations are underway for the upcoming and most anticipated “1st International ICT Conference and Expo” this coming Oct. 13 to 15 at the Fontana Leisure Parks here.

Dubbed “Clark Conex 2011,” the conference and expo is poised to be the Clark Freeport’s largest gathering of experts, industry players, and stakeholders in the Information Communications Technology, Business Process Outsourcing, and semiconductor sector.

Clark Conex 2011 is being held to encourage IT/BPO firms to locate in the provinces to decongest Metro Manila, said Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo.

He added that the event is being held “to ensure that the activities to be held during the event will cater to the various needs of stakeholders from the industry.”

CDC Director Frankie Villanueva, who is also president the of the Metro Clark ICT Council, said Clark Conex 2011is one of the council’s flagship projects geared to make the Clark Freeport as the country’s foremost IT/BPO destination.

This was seconded by Cybercity Teleservices Senior Executive Vice President and concurrent Metro Clark ICT Chair George Sorio, who noted that the BPO industry in the country will gain a much stronger momentum since the United States has recovered from the recession and financial crisis.

“This is the right time to declare Clark as the Philippines’ top IT and BPO destination,” Sorio announced during a press conference held earlier before local and national media.

CDC Industrial Relations Unit Head Ervin Joy Rivera said Clark Conex 2011 aims to institutionalize Metro Clark’s reputation as the most viable investment and development destination in the global ICT, BPO and KPO map.

He added that the conference and exposition “will showcase Metro Clark and its constituents’ technical and competitive advantages in a global O&O downstream market.”

“It also solidifies its (Metro Clark area) niche as a credible Technology and Expo destination in Asia, capable of hosting the top players and investors in this multi-million dollar industry that has enveloped the planet,” Rivera said.

Rivera added that the event will highlight Metro Clark’s global tourist appeal because of its convenient “business-meets leisure” environment, its rich culture, wide array of entertainment and recreational getaways, and world-famous Filipino hospitality.

According to Rivera, Clark Conex 2011 will also boost the current workforce of the Clark Freeport, most particularly in the ICT, BPO, and semiconductor industries.

“At any given time the Clark Freeport has some 4,000 available jobs in its Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector,” Rivera said.

Aside from Clark’s garments and manufacturing sector, Rivera said more than 50 percent of Clark’s workforce comes from a mix of industries from the IT, BPO, and semiconductor sectors.

View Clark Conex 2011 schedule of activites here

Clark eyed as Philippine’s premier sports training center, amusement hub

CLARK FREEPORT – Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) have presented to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III the proposed Clark Star Center, which is geared to transform the Freeport into the country’s premier sports training center and amusement hub.

CDC President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo said the Clark Star Center, otherwise known as the Clark Sports Training Amusement and Recreation Center, was presented to Japanese investor during the President’s state visit in Japan on Sept. 26.

During the state visit, Remollo had asked Japanese traders to fund the Clark Star Center, which will be established in a 200-hectare area at the Northeastern portion of the Freeport.

Remollo said he had already met with businessmen in his visit to Yokohama and Tokyo cities in Japan early September and they expressed interest in investing at the Clark Star.

Remollo said the Clark Star will have various facilities for water sports such as wakeboarding, rowing, water skiing, parasailing, kayaking, dragon boating and jet skiing. It will be built near the Sacobia River to answer the need for a body of water for the water sports.

It will also have world-class facilities for basketball, baseball, swimming, tennis and soccer. Remollo said dormitories for athletes, sports academy and training ground will be provided since the Clark Star is geared to be a training center of national athletes.

Remollo said he had presented to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) his plan and its president, Jose Cojuangco Jr., “liked it very much.”

Remollo said hotels, villas, condominiums and a commercial area will also rise at the Clark Star to attract tourists to stay in between and after competitions. The residential and commercial area will be completed by a nature and theme park.

In the plan, the CDC wants to create a monorail link system allowing people to travel around the center.

16th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (Press Launch Photos)

16th Hot Air Balloon.President Benigno N. Ricafort of Clark

Development Corporation expresses his excitement at the press launch of the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival to be held on Feb. 10 to 13 at the Clark Freeport Zone. Ricafort was informed during the press briefings Sunday at the SM Clark's event center that at least 28 hot air balloons from 10 countries will participate in this year's event.

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Joy Roa, chair of the Hot Air fest, informs media of the various activities to be held at 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival on Feb. 10 to 13 at the Clark Freeport Zone. At least 28 balloons from 10 countries will participate in this year's balloon fest in Clark.

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Joy Roa, chair of the Hot Air fest (extreme left) discusses some of the innovations and other activities to be held during the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival to be held on Feb. 10 to 13 at the Clark Freeport Zone. Also in photo during the press briefings held at the Event Center of SM City Clark on Sunday are President Benigno N. Ricafort of Clark Development Corporation (2nd from left) and SM Asst. Mall Manager Anna

Datu.