Because of its distance from the Philippine capital Manila, Ilocos Norte might not have been at the top of the list for investors, both local and international. With an international airport served by the country’s two largest carriers, the province is determined to become “the ideal business destination” in the region.
At the forefront of this effort is INvest Ilocos Norte, the province’s investment promotions arm led by Gov. Michael Manotoc. In an interview with GMI POST, Provincial Investment Officer Rona Leigh Bueno outlined the four drivers behind Ilocos Norte’s economic growth plan.
Tourism
With its Spanish Colonial-era architecture and pristine beaches, Ilocos Norte has been one of the top destinations among local tourists. The St. Agustine Church in the provincial capital Paoay is one of four Baroque Churches in the Philippines included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Pagudpud in the northern tip of Luzon, the largest and most populous island of the Philippines, boasts beaches with crystal clear waters and power-fine white sand.
"Our goal for the provincial tourism industry is to invite investors and an international chain to develop our hospitality industry even further,” said Bueno.
Renewable energy
Ilocos Norte is home to Southeast Asia's first wind farm. A tourist attraction in itself, the iconic Bangui Windmills currently supplies around 40% of the province’s electricity needs. Since the Bangui Wind Farm began operations in 2005, Ilocos Norte has overseen the opening of two more wind farms, one in Burgos and another in Pagudpud.
According to Bueno, Manotoc recognizes the immense growth potential of renewable energy in the province.
Only in June, Madrid-based BlueFloat Energy announced the acquisition of Wind Energy Service Contracts (WESCs) for four sites in the Philippines.
“Blue Float is a wind farm company that was the province’s first Green Lane certification awardee. Their pilot site will be an offshore one in Ilocos Norte,” she said.
Digital transformation
Ilocos Norte is proud of its recognition as one of the 25 digital cities in the Philippines by the IT and Business Processing Association of the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Leechiu Property Consultants.
“We offer knowledge processing outsourcing (KPO), which are non-voice, backup offices that provide expert services like accounting, architecture, engineering, and healthcare. There's a big opportunity for KPOs here because we produce an average of 4,000 college graduates a year,” Bueno said.
An ideal business environment
With its strategic location, connectivity via its international airport, good quality of life, and tax incentives offered by the local government, Ilocos Norte provides the right conditions for businesses to thrive.
Also, the province has a sizeable, highly skilled workforce composed of a steady stream of college graduates who are ready to contribute to its economic success.
