BUSINESS | Philippine ecozones eye AI data center investments
WTCA said the global data center market has about 10,000 facilities, with total capacity projected to double over the next five years.
Philippine economic zones could attract more global data center investments as major technology hubs in Asia Pacific and the West face constraints on land, power capacity and regulation, according to the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA).
The association identified Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) ecozones and local freeport zones, as potential destinations for data center projects supporting artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other digital services.
WTCA said the global data center market has about 10,000 facilities, with total capacity projected to double over the next five years. It said constraints in established technology hubs are prompting operators to consider alternative locations in the Asia Pacific region.
In the United States, 30 states have enacted measures restricting data center development amid concerns over power grids and environmental impacts. Singapore has also faced land and energy constraints, according to WTCA.
Scott Wang, WTCA vice president for Asia Pacific, said economic zones that combine infrastructure, incentives and investment support could be positioned to attract data center projects.
“Data centers make up essential infrastructure for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital commerce, and the broader digital economy,” Wang said. “They also represent a rapidly growing real estate and investment opportunity. Free Zones that can provide the right combination of infrastructure, incentives, and investment support are exceptionally well-positioned to attract this global industry.”
WTCA said Philippine growth corridors such as Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Clark could benefit from the shift. PEZA currently hosts more than 290 IT parks and specialized centers nationwide, according to the organization.
The Philippine government has also reopened opportunities for new IT developments in Metro Manila. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Administrative Order 45 in July 2026, lifting a seven-year moratorium on new IT park and IT center applications in the capital. Five Metro Manila developments subsequently applied for ecozone status, according to WTCA.
The association discussed the investment opportunity during its recent “Unlocking Data Center Investment: The Role of the WTCA Network in Connecting Free Zones and Developers” webinar.
Martín Gustavo Ibarra, president and CEO of Araújo Ibarra International Business Consultants, WTCA’s partner for its “Free Zones Go Global” initiative, described data centers as a real estate investment with concentrated value creation.
“In terms of return, a data center is fundamentally a real estate play,” Ibarra said. “Data centers are a real estate business with the most concentrated value-added per square foot.”
Ibarra said data centers can also help cities attract industries such as AI, fintech, cloud computing and business process outsourcing.
Data center projects supporting newer AI workloads can require industrial sites capable of handling 200 megawatts or more, as well as secured utility connections and fiber infrastructure. Power capacity remains a key consideration as Philippine economic zones compete for larger projects.
World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), which opened in 1996, is also exploring how the WTCA network could support emerging opportunities in Philippine economic zones as it marks its 30th year.
“As WTCMM marks 30 years of connecting the Philippines to global trade, we’re keeping a close watch on how the WTCA network could support Philippine economic zones as this next wave of investment takes shape,” said Pamela D. Pascual, chairman and CEO of WTCMM and WTCA board director.
WTCA has more than 300 World Trade Center locations across nearly 100 countries and territories. The organization said its network connects technology companies, data center developers and capital sources with economic zones seeking investment.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is also performed by human editors, with artificial intelligence (AI) used only to assist with additional grammar and style guide corrections..
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