At this early, the planned AI-Native Industrial Acceleration hub in Clark is already attracting strong interest from major foreign investors not just American firms, but Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean companies, official government sources said.
Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, who recently signed the Pax Silica Declaration between the U. S. and the Philippines, and Joshua M. Bingcang, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), revealed the strong investors’ interest in a joint press conference Friday after their arrival from Washington D.C.
Rodolfo said that among these investors are five companies from 2 East Asian countries.
“There are countries and specific companies in AI-tech manufacturing, in transition energy, and in infrastrucure, that reached-out to express the significance of Pax Silica to their investment plans,” said Rodolfo.
Bingcang also said that he met with some ambassadors, who relayed to him their keen interest to participate in the first-ever AI Native Acceleration hub.
Bingcang said that after the Washington D.C. meeting, there were already several expression of interest and follow up emails as soon as he arrived in Manila. These interest are not just from the U.S., but from Taiwan, Japanese and Koreans.
The first phase of the project is expected to start rolling in two years and the first phase of its implementation happening within the administration of President Marcos Jr.
“Still happening during his term,” Bingcang confirmed.
Already, a technical team from the U.S. is scheduled to arrive in the next six months to start the feasibility study and due diligence.
The identified proposed 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) of land, which will be the site of the Pax Silica Coordination Office, is located towards the Tarlac side near the golf course where the SEA Games venue was held.
Bingcang further clarified that the 2-year grace period on lease payments for the 1,600 hectares would actually be applied during the feasibility study period. The U.S. is expected to undertake the masterplanning of the project.
“The two-year grace period is a normal commercial transaction,” he said just like the previous arrangements they entered into with Japan’s JOIN for the masterplanning of New Clark City.
Some details of this ambitious project are still being ironed out, but Bingcang said that the presence of government make makes this undertaking more compelling for investors.
