BCDA pitches new Clark City to UAE investors

MANILA, Philippines — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is urging firms from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to invest in New Clark City.

In a statement yesterday, the BCDA said it sent a team of business development and marketing executives to Dubai earlier this month to invite firms to consider New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac as a location for their investments.

The BCDA contingent joined other Philippine government agencies in the UAE from Feb. 9 to13 to participate in the Philippine National Day celebration at the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai.

During the event, the BCDA conducted business-to-business meetings with firms and encouraged them to look at the viability and advantages of locating in New Clark City, particularly in the information and communications technology sector.

Arrey Perez, senior vice president for corporate services at BCDA who led the BCDA delegation to Dubai, said several companies expressed interest in pursuing further discussions to explore investment opportunities in the country.

“These are still subject to further exploratory talks. They might be interested to partner with us or a private company,” he said.

“Overall, the BCDA’s visit to Dubai was a productive one as we were able to engage investors and showcase New Clark City as an attractive business hub. Business events that allow us to come face-to-face with key market investors do not come very often during the pandemic. However, when we were invited to join the Philippine delegation to the Expo 2020 Dubai, we felt that it was an excellent opportunity to directly promote New Clark City as the country’s next smart, sustainable and inclusive metropolis,” BCDA officer-in-charge president and CEO Aristotle Batuhan said.

BCDA is positioning New Clark City as an alternative government center and investment hub outside Metro Manila.

It is designed to be a disaster-resilient and crisis-responsive metropolis, promoting innovation and sustainability.

During the event, the BCDA was also able to strengthen its links with the Filipino business community and other government agencies, such as the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai, to promote investment opportunities.