Ang Pahayagan

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) hosted the 2nd Korea–Philippines Economic Collaboration Summit on February 9 at the Seoul National University Business School Amphitheater, as part of its investment promotion mission in South Korea.

Organized in partnership with PnB Group and Finora Global, the summit brought together nearly 200 participants representing around 130 companies, including major conglomerates, banks, and fintech and digital asset institutions.

Among the participating organizations were MSquare Group, Hanpass, Sosobank, Sigma Chain, and COVI, reflecting growing interest in emerging sectors such as fintech, blockchain, and digital assets.

AFAB Administrator and CEO Hussein Pangandaman delivered the opening remarks and presented the investment opportunities at the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), highlighting the agency’s vision to develop a regulated and future-ready ecosystem for emerging industries.

During the summit, AFAB Office of the Administrator Group Head Percival B. Peralta introduced AFAB’s Offshore Digital Assets License (ODAL) policy framework and discussed opportunities for Security Token Offerings (STOs) within the FAB.

The program also featured insights from Ahn Joongho, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University, along with representatives from Finora Global, Hanpass, Sosobank, Sigma Chain, and COVI, who explored potential collaborations in blockchain and digital asset technologies aligned with AFAB’s regulatory direction.

The summit forms part of AFAB’s broader efforts to strengthen economic ties between South Korea and the Philippines while positioning the Freeport Area of Bataan as a strategic hub for emerging technology investments in the region.