...the Asia's next Aerotropolis

Clark International Airport as Asia’s next ‘aerotropolis’

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Clark International Airport. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–With the world’s economic center of gravity rapidly moving eastward, there is increasing urgency to develop Clark International Airport into an aviation hub, and this is the focus of a two-day conference to be held this month at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

“The Case for Asia’s Next Aerotropolis” is the theme of the Clark Aviation Conference 2013, a trade gathering that will examine Clark’s compelling case as an aerotropolis, an idea in community planning where airports serve as the center for new cities growing around them.

The conference, being organized by Clark International Airport Corp (CIAC) in partnership with Global Gateway Logistics City, takes place Feb. 21-22, 2013, at the Widus Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone. It coincides with the annual Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

“The event will highlight Clark International Airport’s critical role in easing air traffic congestion in Manila and driving economic expansion in Central Luzon. It will also identify infrastructure and policy developments at Clark Freeport Zone that are designed to attract airport-related businesses and investments,” said CIAC president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano.

“More importantly, the conference is a call for the full development of Clark International Airport as an aviation nerve center in the light of the economic growth in Asia.”

Heads of government agencies—including Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Atty. Arnel Casanova and Trade Assistant Secretary Fe Agoncillo-Reyes—and private-sector representatives will look at Clark’s prospects as an aviation and investment destination in Asia, even as they examine pressing aviation and tourism concerns and propose sustainable and long-term solutions.

Keynote speaker is Greg Lindsay, the US-based co-author of the bestselling book, Aerotropolis, The Way We’ll Live Next. Other speakers include Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz, John Forbes of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce, former Tourism Secretary Narzalina Lim, and Capt. Benjamin Solis, adviser of CIAC.

The convention targets international investors, logistics and supply chain executives, tourism stakeholders, airline officials, import and export managers, and members of the academe. They are expected to gain insights into Clark’s potentials as an aviation and investment destination in Asia and understand better its increasing role in national and regional development.