Davao Ecozones emerging as Key Gateways for Global Investment

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is spotlighting the Davao Region as a rising hub for global investment, with its ecozones fueling jobs, exports, and inclusive growth across Mindanao.

Long known as the country’s “food basket,” Davao has steadily evolved into a major center for agriculture, logistics, education, business, and tourism. Its strategic location in the southern Philippines—close to Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore under the BIMP-EAGA bloc—makes it a natural springboard for international trade.

Modern infrastructure such as the Davao International Airport and the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) further enhances its global connectivity, enabling agricultural products, manufactured goods, and services to reach Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Ecozones Driving Growth

As of March 2025, Mindanao hosts 42 operating ecozones, 19 of which are in the Davao Region. These zones employ over 50,000 workers and generated more than $275 million in export revenue in the first half of 2025 alone.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga emphasized that ecozones are not just industrial spaces but platforms for communities to thrive. “Anflo Industrial Estate exemplifies how ecozones can transform local strengths into global opportunities. By hosting world-class companies alongside Filipino enterprises, AIE not only creates jobs but also showcases the Philippines’ competitiveness in agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics,” Panga said.

Spotlight on Flagship Zones

One of the region’s key investment hubs, the Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, is home to 24 companies in agro-industry, manufacturing, and logistics. Its EDGE-certified cold storage facility—the first in the Philippines—alongside its proximity to DICT, makes it a competitive base for exporters.

Notable locators include Solaris Panabo Corp., which manufactures solar-powered lighting, and HEAD Sport Philippines Inc., an Austrian firm producing sports equipment for international markets.

Meanwhile, the Metro Davao Economic Zone (MDEZ) in Digos City is positioning itself as a future hub for agro-business, IT-BPM, and manufacturing. Digos Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas underscored the city’s readiness to host investors, citing local government initiatives in green zones, digital connectivity, and workforce development.

“We understand that investors seek not only incentives but assurance. Here in Digos City, you will find both,” Cagas said.

Gateway to Inclusive Growth

For PEZA, the success of ecozones in Davao underscores the potential of Mindanao as a key driver of the Philippine economy. Beyond generating exports and employment, ecozones strengthen local supply chains, empower farmers, and integrate communities into global value networks.

“Together with our registered business enterprises and the unique advantages of our ecozones, PEZA remains firm in its mission to make the Philippines one of the most attractive investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific,” Panga added.

With flagship developments in Panabo and Digos paving the way, Davao’s ecozones are shaping up to be not only engines of local growth but also gateways linking Mindanao to the world economy.