The Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) has been named Industrial Zone of the Year – Asia-Pacific at the fDi Intelligence Global Free Zones Awards 2025, in recognition of its continued expansion across Bataan, efficient investor facilitation, and strong support for manufacturing and logistics enterprises.
The fDi Intelligence Global Free Zones Awards 2025 awards, organized by fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times Group, highlights the world’s most competitive and investor-ready free zones and industrial estates.
The FAB earned the top regional distinction for its continued expansion across Bataan, efficient investor facilitation, and strong support for manufacturing and logistics enterprises.
The Freeport’s balanced growth, welcoming both traditional industries as well as new and emerging sectors like blockchain and fintech services, was also highlighted.
Under the leadership of AFAB Administrator and CEO Hussein Pangandaman, the Bataan freeport continues to improve access, systems, and infrastructure to make the Freeport more competitive and responsive to global investors.
Its strengthened mandate under Republic Act No. 11453 enables the declaration of FAB Expansion Areas (FEAs) across Bataan, allowing more investors to benefit from AFAB’s streamlined processes and investment incentives.
This international recognition places AFAB among Asia-Pacific’s leading industrial zones, reaffirming its role as one of the Philippines’ most dynamic investment destinations.
The 2025 edition of fDi Intelligence’s flagship Global Free Zones of the Year Awards is published at a critical juncture for the world economy. The 2020s have been defined by geopolitical fragmentation, rising debt levels and transactional trade policies. But it has also seen record numbers of companies pledge investment into free trade zones and special economic zones worldwide.
The awards body received submissions for 80 zones from across the globe.
The first category was industrial zones, which have a focus on attracting manufacturing and logistics activities. Knowledge zones was the second category, covering zones where the majority of tenants lease or acquire office space or other commercial facilities designed for the provision of services. These include tenants in areas like finance, IT, trade, education, tourism and research and development, as well as zones that offer residential space.
The final category was rising stars, reserved for zones that have been launched no earlier than December 31, 2022 regardless of their specialization. The survey also featured questions asking zones to explain their progress towards carbon emission reduction targets, which fed into an excellence awards for sustainability.
