By Eileen Mencias
A consortium of Polish, American, and Filipino investors is planning to develop a data center in Camarines Norte, integrating renewable energy and water desalination technology, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
The project will require an initial investment of €60 million (approximately ₱4 billion), with the group eyeing the potential development of similar facilities at two additional sites in the Philippines.
The initiative emerged following a recent investment mission led by PEZA, in coordination with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Philippine Embassy in Poland, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Berlin.
The mission aimed to deepen trade and investment ties with the European Union.
According to PEZA, the Camarines Norte project was among the key investment leads generated through business-to-business meetings in Warsaw and Gdansk.
As part of the mission, a Polish startup affiliated with the University of Gdansk showcased an advanced air and water purification technology using photocatalytic membranes as an alternative to traditional filters.
The startup expressed interest in establishing a manufacturing facility in the Philippines if the technology gains traction in Southeast Asia.
PEZA said the visit to Poland is part of the Philippines’ strategy to diversify export markets and strengthen trade links with the EU amid shifting global trade dynamics.
The economic zone agency currently hosts over 300 companies from the EU, representing more than ₱400 billion in total investments. However, only one Polish firm—operating in the IT-BPM sector—is currently registered with PEZA.
While the EU remains a significant investor bloc, trade between the Philippines and Poland is unbalanced.
Philippine exports to Poland are primarily electronics, while Poland is a key supplier of Black Hawk helicopters to the country.
