Ranking members of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) recently enhanced their infrastructure investment knowledge and expertise at a recent 2-day comprehensive symposium and asset tour in Cebu spearheaded by Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group.
Co-hosted by AIC Economic Estates (operator of Mactan Economic Zone 2 [MEZ2] Estate in Lapu-Lapu City and West Cebu Estate [WCE] in Balamban) and Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (operator of the award-winning Mactan-Cebu International Airport [MCIA]), the symposium dubbed “AIC Conversations” gave FTSC members key insights on the management and operations of industrial estates and airports. Aside from touring these AIC sites, they also conducted regional consultations with local private and public stakeholders from the business and trade sectors.
“Through initiatives like ‘AIC Conversations,’ we aim to foster meaningful partnerships and showcase the vital role of infrastructure in enabling trade and investments,” said AIC First Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs Christopher M. Camba.
“By highlighting the synergy between AIC Economic Estates and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, we demonstrate how AIC continues to drive economic growth and create opportunities for local and global businesses alike,” added AIC President & CEO Cosette V. Canilao.
The FTSC is composed of Trade Representatives or Commercial Attaches assigned to Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide. It actively promotes the country’s commerce and trade interests, including market access and linkages, trade policy, and investment promotion–a crucial role that enables local businesses to participate in the global trade of products and services.
As part of the DTI’s Industry Development and Investment Promotions Group, the FTSC works internationally to connect Philippine companies and investors with their counterparts abroad and ensure the Philippines is well-positioned globally for trade, tourism, and investments.
Together with DTI, AIC is at the forefront in driving regional development across the country by creating opportunities that are more accessible to more Filipinos, especially in and near MEZ2 Estate, WCE, and MCIA.
MEZ2 Estate is a 63-hectare Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered mixed-use development in Lapu-Lapu City operated in partnership with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority. MEZ2 Estate hosts various companies involved in light to medium manufacturing for the local and export markets, packaging, industrial logistics & warehousing, among others.
WCE, on the other hand, is a 540-hectare PEZA-registered collaboration between the Aboitiz Group and Japan’s Tsuneishi Holdings and is dubbed the “Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.”
Together, MEZ2 Estate and West Cebu Estate are home to almost 60 locators and approximately 28,000 employees, providing access to key complementary systems such as Mactan EnerZone, Aboitiz Construction, PEZA & Bureau of Customs One-Stop-Shop, The Outlets at Pueblo Verde, Pueblo Verde, iMEZ for MEZ2 Estate, and to West Cebu Estate Water, Balamban EnerZone, West Cebu Exchange, and Foressa Mountain Town for WCE.
These locations are accessible via MCIA in Lapu-Lapu City–the Philippines’ largest international aviation hub outside of Metro Manila, the country’s second-busiest gateway, and a leading sustainable airport in the country. MCIA– whose Terminal 2 is a Skytrax 4-Star Terminal and is currently vying for the World’s Best Airport Staff honor at the Skytrax 2025 World Airport Awards–is home to five domestic and 18 international carriers that fly to 27 domestic and 14 international destinations.
In 2023, MCIA welcomed over 10 million local and foreign passengers as the country’s economy continues to grow on the back of sustained demand for tourism and travel.
