The country’s first ever Special Economic Zone (SEZ) institute has been launched in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in partnership with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) have sealed a memorandum of agreement following the soft inauguration of the university’s new National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) Building.
The infrastructure will house the SEZ Institute office as well as bureaus of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Negosyo Center and shared service facilities.
The SEZ Institute will provide skills training, research, among others based on the industry identified in the region.
It will also partner with state universities and colleges in upskilling workers.
PEZA director-general Charito Plaza also invited the LGUs to make use of their idle lands and create economic zones in their area.
Plaza has also encouraged MMSU to “apply as a Knowledge, Innovation, Science, and Technology (KIST) park under PEZA, which will allow them to partner with foreign universities and offer similar programs.
The SEZ Institute is one of the 10-point programs and special projects to be successively implemented as PEZA celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
